Julien Alfred on a mission: ‘I have the potential to be one of the best.’
The NCAA champion in both the 100m and 200m, Alfred has her sights set on Olympic glory for Paris 2024. She wants to win Saint Lucia its first-ever Olympic medal but first up are the World Athletics Championships. Find out in our exclusive interview how it all started and how her win over Sha'Carri Richardson changed things.
Athletics
Julien Alfred is well aware that her home country, the tiny Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia (population: 180,000), has never won an Olympic medal.
That’s a fact she’d like to change.
“Growing up, I always said I wanted to be one of St. Lucia's first medallists... first gold medallists,” she told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. “I'm really looking forward to going to the Olympic Games and trying to deliver at that level for my country.”
The potential is there: In June, Alfred swept both the 100m and 200m NCAA athletics national titles in her final season at Texas, and weeks later scored a high-profile win over American champion Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m.
The 22-year-old is shy and under-stated in person, but has a quiet confidence burning underneath.
“I know how hard I've worked to get to this level,” Alfred explained. “I'm really proud of myself for being here and being at this level... [and] be in the top five in the world. I'm really proud of myself and how far I've come just seeing how life has led me to being here today.”
Julien Alfred: Youth Olympic Games influence
It was five years ago that Alfred had what she calls a life-changing experience: Competing at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. While her silver medal in the 100m boosted her confidence, it was being on a truly global stage that helped her dream bigger.
“I think that was the beginning of something great,” she said. “It influenced my choices in going to college, as well, so I think it was a really good experience for me.”
In the months after Buenos Aires, Alfred committed to running for the University of Texas after meeting with “coach Flo,” Edrick Floréal, who Alfred said has been pivotal in her upward trajectory as an athlete.
“He's been like a dad, a mentor and a coach,” Alfred said of Floréal. “I think at this level sometimes there can be so much pressure [around a team] and I really appreciate all that he has done not just from a coaching standpoint, but also just being a human like I am. He's seen me as a human and not just an athlete. He's been a great help in making me into the person that I am, and have the mindset that I have.”
That mindset helped Alfred sweep the two sprint events in front of home fans at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, having also won the 100m title in 2022.
“The years that I've spent at Texas have helped me mature into the person that I am,” Alfred said. “It has made me into this Julien and all the successes that I've had.”
From primary school to the pros
“My times got recognised because I was running against the young boys in my class,” remembered Alfred, who said she first picked up the sport in “Grade 1 or 2” and was noticed by the school’s librarian.
Having lost her father at age 12, Alfred briefly gave up the sport before starting up again, buoyed by the coach from her very first running club.
She spent high school in Jamaica, but did not tap into her true potential until she was under the direction of Coach Floréal. Earlier this season, she had the world lead time in the 200m, and still maintains a top five time for the year internationally in both the 100m and 200m.
“I'm sure my younger self would be proud; I would have never imagined in my life,” Alfred explained with a smile. “Growing up and seeing all those big athletes at this level, sitting on my couch and watching them, I never imagined myself being here. As life has progressed, I've realised that I have the potential to be one of the best, among the best. Being here now is really helping my confidence... I'm really proud of myself.”
Alfred said the next year will be an “interesting” one for her as she readies for the Olympic Summer Games Paris 2024 and tries to make her mark on the international stage. She’s still unsure if she will focus on the 100m or 200m, though the 100m has been her stronger event. Or perhaps both.
“My life is going to be changing, for sure,” she said. “I'm no longer going to be [competing for] Texas. I think that's a challenge that I'm ready for. I'm going to Budapest [for Worlds] and will be trying to make decisions at a pro level.”
She added: “If it's in the plan to be one of the best in the world then I'm looking forward to that.”
Julien Alfred and Paris 2024
“I'm proud to represent St. Lucia internationally,” Alfred said. “I put my name out there [in competition] and am proud to say I'm from St. Lucia.”
Since making its debut with an Olympic team at Atlanta 1996, St. Lucia has had 31 Olympians in total, including five at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
But no medals – yet.
“I think it would be a proud moment not just for me and for my family but also for my country,” Alfred said of her podium dreams.
Alfred’s win over Sha'Carri Richardson in mid-July was at a small meet in Hungary, but it also came as the St. Lucian was making her official pro debut – and marked the first time that Richardson had lost in the event all season.
The two are likely to meet in what is set to be a stacked women’s 100m in Budapest for the World Athletics Championships, an event where St. Lucia has never won a medal, either.
It’s a moment that could well and truly put Alfred on the international map, but “Juju” as she’s known, wants people to understand the pathway she’s taken – and how it’s shaped her.
“I want people to know first where I'm from... [and] that it took a lot for me to get where I'm at,” she said. “I didn't just get here just like that. It took a lot of hard work and perseverance. I gave up many times. Injury-wise, I wanted to give up and go home and just quit.
“I am a strong woman of God and a hard worker,” she added. “And that's made me who I am. That's why I'm here today.”