Julien Alfred became the first-ever medallist from St Lucia after winning the women’s 100m final, sprinting through rain to beat the reigning world champion, the United States’ Sha’Carri Richardson.
at 10.72 seconds, with Richardson claiming silver behind her at 10.87 seconds.
Heading into the final, Richardson was heavily tipped to take home the gold, which would have made her the first American woman to do so since Gail Devers in 1996.
However, 23-year-old Alfred pushed out of the blocks quickly and had an early lead that she maintained, keeping a stride ahead of the other runners.
Alfred’s win marked the first time since 2004 that the winner was not an athlete from Jamaica.
Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the most decorated female sprinter of all time and another favourite to win the gold medal, did not compete. The Jamaican athletics federation reportedly informed World Athletics that Fraser-Pryce had suffered an injury.
Alfred paid tribute to her late father after winning the 100m final. Source: Getty / Catherine Steenkeste
Where does Alfred come from?
St Lucia is a small island nation in the eastern Carribbean with a population of around 180,000 people. The crowd of spectators in Paris who watched Alfred take gold reached 69,000.
She said she grew up running barefoot in St Lucia, where poverty is widespread.
Alfred’s father passed away when she was 12 years old. Affected by his loss, she left St Lucia and her family at 14 to go to school in Jamaica, the home of her idol, Usain Bolt.
She went on to train at the University of Texas under the mentorship of Edrick Floreal, who also coaches reigning European 100m champion Dina Asher-Smith and Irish 400m runner Rhasidat Adeleke.
“It means a lot to me. It means a lot to my coach. It means a lot to my country,” Alfred said of her victory. “I’m sure they’re celebrating right now.”
Alfred also paid tribute to her father following her win.
“He believed that I could do it,” she said. “He passed away in 2013, and he couldn’t get to see me on the biggest stage of my career.”
