Alfred: Thank you, Jamaica

PARIS, France

Basking in the glow of becoming her country’s first ever Olympic Games champion, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred was thankful for the foundation that Jamaica gave her on the road to title success.

Alfred claimed the women’s 100 metres title on Saturday in a national record time of 10.72 seconds in a dominating performance. Reigning World champion Sha’Carri Richardson was second in 10.87 and her American teammate Melissa Jefferson was third in 10.92.

Alfred’s journey started in Jamaica at St Catherine High School where she competed at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championship before securing a scholarship to the University of Texas.

For her, that decision years ago has been the platform for a career that now sees her at the top of the world.

“Just seeing the environment that they have I just wanted to experience that. Growing up watching Usain Bolt I wanted to be just like him. I think it was the right move for me, learning about myself and about the sport and seeing how far I can reach,” Alfred said.

Alfred credits that inspiration in how she visualised herself taking charge of her moment, the day of the final, thanks to watching videos of Bolt and Elaine Thompson-Herah make history of their own at the Games.

“I was watching Usain Bolt races, his Olympic races and also past (races) like Elaine Thompson-Herah. I was just watching their races and just picturing myself coming across the line and being the Olympic champion,” Alfred said.

Alfred’s win might have stopped Jamaica’s 16-year streak of victories in the event, but she ensured that the title would remain in the Caribbean for the fifth straight Olympic Games. On the same night that Dominica’s Thea LaFond captured the women’s triple jump title, Alfred said that it was a seminal moment for the region at large.

“It means a lot to me and to the Caribbean as well. In the athletes’ village everybody was saying ‘we trust in you’. People from the Caribbean were wishing me the best. Going out there and running for the Caribbean means a lot,” Alfred said. “I am really happy for Thea. I’m happy for Dominica right now. To be from a small place, Dominica, St Lucia and to be on a global stage right now and put our countries on the map it means a lot.”

Alfred began the quest for a sprint double, by winning her first round women’s 200m heat yesterday.