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| On June 10, 2023, in Austin, TX, USA, Julien Alfred from Texas rejoiced following her victory in the women’s 200m with a wind-assisted time of 21.73 at the NCAA Track & Field Championships held at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. |
Julien Alfred, a remarkable athlete from Texas
Julien Alfred, a remarkable athlete from Texas, has secured the first gold medal in Olympic history for her nation, St. Lucia, at the age of 23, by triumphing in the 100-meter dash.
In the world of athletics, the title of the fastest woman belongs to a Texas Longhorn.
On Saturday, during the Paris Olympics, Julien Alfred, a 23-year-old sprinter, amazed fans worldwide by completing the 100-meter race in 10.72 seconds at the Stade de France. This remarkable performance secured St. Lucia's inaugural medal in any sporting event, and it was, notably, a gold medal.
Alfred surpassed the favored Sha'Carri Richardson from Team USA, who had been expected to finish first, by a margin of .15 seconds—the widest gap in Olympic history for the women's 100-meter event since 2008.
A clip shared on 'X' showcased the thunderous cheers from the crowd in Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, as citizens rejoiced in one another's embrace following Alfred's spectacular finish. This small island, located in the eastern Caribbean Sea and home to about 181,000 residents, is now united in celebration of this historic achievement brought about by Alfred.
Saint Lucia had never won an Olympic medal, ever, until this evening.
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) August 3, 2024
The people of Castries gathered to watch Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m final.
You love to see it. 🇱🇨 pic.twitter.com/EjYgb6oDhe
In a press conference after her win, Alfred credited her triumph to the support provided by Edrik Floréal, the head coach of Texas track and field.
"I put so much pressure on myself, feeling like I needed to represent my country and overwhelmed by the support surrounding me. But he was instrumental in transforming that pressure into a source of motivation," Alfred disclosed. "He has been my steadfast support, accompanying me through both the challenges and the victories. I'm truly grateful that he never lost faith in me."
Alfred, who was recruited by Floréal in 2019, dedicated five seasons, both indoors and outdoors, to the Longhorns. In her final year with the team, she played a crucial role in leading them to the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor National Championship title.
After securing championship titles in four different events, achieving record holder status in two, and placing No. 2 and No. 4 all-time in NCAA history for the 200-meter and 400-meter sprints, respectively, she was honored as the 2023 NCAA National Track Athlete of the Year as well as the 2023 USTFCCCA Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
While the U.S. ultimately took home a silver medal, Texas celebrated another achievement, boasting a total of 10 medals earned by its former students and current scholars.