Who is Julien Alfred? Early Life, Education, Career, and Achievements

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, 23-year-old Saint Lucian sprinter Julian Alfred made history by winning the women’s 100m gold medal in a new national record of 10.72 seconds. The win was Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal since the country began competing in 1996.

Born in Ciceron, Castries, St. Lucia, Alfred moved to Jamaica in 2015 to attend St. Catherine High School. She attended Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School in St. Lucia from 2013 to 2015. She then attended the University of Texas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Studies and competed on the school’s track and field team from 2018 to 2023.

Early life and education

Julian Alfred was born on June 10, 2001 in Ciceron, Castries, Saint Lucia. She faced significant challenges in her early life, most notably the loss of her father when she was 12. This event had a profound impact on her development and inspired her to excel in sports.

Alfred attended Leonhes Comprehensive Secondary School in St. Lucia from 2013 to 2015. She then moved to Jamaica to further her studies at St. Catherine’s High School from 2015 to 2018. While in Jamaica, she improved her sprinting skills by competing against boys from primary school, which helped her build resilience and confidence in her athletic abilities.

In 2018, she moved to the United States to attend the University of Texas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Studies. At the University of Texas, she was an outstanding athlete, breaking records in the university track and field program and winning numerous honors.

Julian Alfred’s career has been marked by a series of extraordinary achievements and milestones that highlight her talent and dedication as a sprinter. The following is a detailed overview of her career highlights:

Early career

  • 2015: Alfred showed potential at a young age, winning the Central American and Caribbean U15 Championship and becoming a promising athlete.
  • 2017: She became the top junior athlete when she won the 100m at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
  • 2018: Alfred wins silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, finishing second to Rosemary Chukwuma of Nigeria.

University achievements

  • 2022 NCAA Division I Championships: Alfred achieved an all-time best time in the 60m at the NCAA Indoor Championships, with a preliminaries time of 7.04 seconds. She won the 100m in 11.02 seconds, becoming the first track and field athlete from Saint Lucia to win a Division I championship.
  • 2022 Caribbean Games: She notched another big win by winning the 100m gold medal in 11.07 seconds.
  • 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships: Alfred made history by becoming the first woman in NCAA history to run the 60 meters in under 7 seconds, setting a new collegiate record with a time of 6.94 seconds. She also set the second-fastest collegiate time in the 200 meters with a time of 22.01 seconds.

International success

  • 2022 Commonwealth Games: Alfred won silver in the 100m.
  • 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships: She won the 60m gold medal.
  • 2024 Summer Olympics: Alfred wins gold in the 100m, setting a new national record of 10.72 seconds, Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal.
  • 60 meters: Alfred tied for the North American indoor record with a time of 6.94 seconds at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
  • 100 meters: Her time at the 2022 Big 12 Championships was 10.81 seconds, while her Olympic record is 10.72 seconds, making her one of the fastest women in the world.

Recognition and Rewards

Alfred was named Saint Lucia’s Junior Athlete of the Year in 2015 and 2017. She received the Bowerman Award in 2023, honoring the top collegiate track and field athlete in the United States.

Julian Alfred’s rise from a young athlete in Saint Lucia to Olympic champion and record-breaking sprinter exemplifies her talent and dedication. Her historic achievements, including winning a gold medal and setting 60m and 100m records at the 2024 Summer Olympics, have made her a towering figure in the world of track and field and the pride of her country. As she continues to compete at the highest level, she will inspire future generations and cement her legacy in the sport.