Paris 2024 Athletics: Julien Alfred's historic gold win for Saint Lucia

As Julien Alfred powered past the finish line, the new Paris 2024 women's 100m Olympic champion screamed with joy and pointed to the crowd before bursting into tears.

In the blink of an eye, the three-time NCAA champion had pulled off a stunning victory in the Stade de France, beating pre-race favourite Sha’Carri Richardson to gold in 10.72 seconds and giving Saint Lucia its first Olympic medal in the history of the Games.

Alfred was overwhelmed with emotion after her victory as she dedicated the win to her late father who died 11 years ago:

"Most importantly, God, my coach, and lastly, my dad, who believed that I could do it," she answered when asked who she dedicated her victory to. "He passed away in 2013, and now he couldn’t get to see me on the biggest stage of my career. But he’ll always be so boastful of his daughter being an Olympian."

The USA's Richardson claimed silver in 10.87 while her compatriot Melissa Jefferson took bronze in 10.92, representing the first time American runners have won two medals in the event since Atlanta 1996.

The heavens had opened in Paris before the much-anticipated final but nobody was prepared for the storm that was about to erupt on the purple, rain-drenched Stade de France running track.

Unawed by the momentous occasion, Alfred burst out of the blocks as the much-fancied Richardson failed to get going in the opening stages of the race.

In the end, neither Richardson nor any of the other eight finalists could come close to Alfred, an athlete from an island of around 180,000 people who took on the world’s sprinting behemoths and won.

Alfred later spoke about how she had manifested her victory on the morning of the race: "I woke up and wrote it down, 'Julien Alfred, Olympic champion.'," she said. "So I think believing in myself really was important."

Julien Alfred’s rise to become Olympic champion: “I always wanted to be Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medallist”

Alfred announced herself to the world at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 where she won silver in the 100m.

Back then, few could have predicted her rapid rise in the sport, but those Games in Argentina had a profound influence on the young sprinter.

“I wasn’t sure how to look at myself at that time, whether as a young Olympian or not” Alfred confessed in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com. “But I think that was the beginning of something great… that also influenced my choices, coming into college.”

It was at college that Alfred really began to build upon her potential, becoming a triple NCAA champion with the University of Texas and the first female collegiate athlete to break the seven-second barrier in the 60m.

Even with those honours, it is a big leap from college star to Olympic champion. Alfred admitted she has dreamed about this moment since she was a child - as a victory both for herself and her country.

“Growing up, I’ve always said I wanted to be one of Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medallists,” she said. “First gold medallists at the Olympic Games.”

Now, on a rainy day in Paris, a far cry from the 325 of sunshine Saint Lucia averages every year, Alfred has fulfilled her dreams and become the new Olympic champion.

Richardson settles for silver on Olympic debut but opportunities lie ahead at LA 2028

For Richardson, the reigning world champion, this was a day she may look back at with more than a hint of regret.

Her slow start in races has become something of an Achilles heel - even if she has recovered brilliantly in the past.

At the US Olympic trials Richardson stumbled out of the blocks, but burst back to win the race in 10.88 seconds.

In the Olympic gold medal race, it was her reaction time that was her downfall, measured at 0.221 seconds compared to Alfred’s 0.144. By the time she had regained her composure, Alfred was just too far down the track for Richardson to mount one of her famous comebacks.

At 24, Richardson is still in the earlier stages of her career and the prospect of a home Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 may just be one she relishes.

And a repeat match-up against Alfred could turn out to be a race for the ages.

Paris 2024 athletics: Women's 100m podium

Gold: Julien Alfred (Saint Lucia)

Silver: Sha'Carri Richardson (USA)

Bronze: Melissa Jefferson (USA)

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