Julien Alfred’s Strategy for Winning the 100m Gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Julien Alfred pulled off a remarkable victory in the Women’s 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating strong competitors like Sha’Carri Richardson. The race, held in challenging conditions with relentless rain, saw the 23-year-old from St. Lucia clock a national record time of 10.72 seconds, earning her country its first-ever Olympic medal.
Alfred’s performance at the Stade de France was impressive from the start. She quickly took the lead and maintained it, finishing significantly ahead of the other runners.
American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson took the silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds, and another American, Melissa Jefferson, secured the bronze with 10.92 seconds.
For St. Lucia, a Caribbean nation with a population of under 200,000, Alfred’s gold medal represents a historic achievement. After participating in seven previous Olympics without winning a medal, Alfred’s victory not only broke that streak but also secured her place in Olympic history.
Amid the pouring rain, Alfred’s excitement was evident. After winning her first global outdoor title, she celebrated by running well beyond the finish line, tearing off her name badge, and proudly displaying it to the cheering crowd.
Reflecting on her journey to the Olympic gold, Alfred credited her success to a new strategy she adopted this year. “This year, I have really been trying to focus on my lane and just working on my execution and not worrying about who is next to me,” she told the media after the race.
Alfred highlighted that by ignoring her competitors—including elite athletes like Richardson and the iconic Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—she was able to stay calm and concentrate on her own performance. Fraser-Pryce, a favorite in the race, was unable to compete due to a reported hamstring injury.
“Sometimes when I do [focus on competitors], I tend to panic, but this year, I think I have had a good strategy. I have just been focusing on my execution only and not those who are next to me. I think this has gone to my favor,” Alfred added.
Her success was also due to a well-planned season. Unlike last year, when she competed in over 50 races, Alfred and her coaching team took a more strategic approach this time.
“I didn’t have a long collegiate year this time round. Last year, I ran over 50 races, but I think not having trials and my coach really just being particular in how I race this year has been a huge advantage for me,” she noted.
Alfred’s decision to focus on the Olympics, rather than other competitions like the NCAA Championships and World Championships, paid off. “I think the main difference is just how much I raced this year and just preparing for the Olympics instead of training for NCAAs and World Championships. This year was all about the Olympics,” she concluded.
Julien Alfred’s gold medal win not only establishes her as one of the world’s top sprinters but also represents a landmark achievement for St. Lucia, as the nation celebrates its first-ever Olympic champion.
