Olympic 100m champion Alfred still in the spotlight

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

While anticipation builds for the upcoming track and field season, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred remains in the spotlight, receiving more accolades for her phenomenal achievements in 2024.

The 23-year-old Olympic 100 metres champion from Ciceron has added two more prestigious awards to her growing collection this week.

On Monday, renowned American website FloTrack named Alfred their Breakthrough Performer of the Year. This recognition, determined through fan votes and nominations by the FloTrack team, highlights her historic year, which included winning the World Indoors 60m title, Olympic gold and silver, and the Diamond League 100m title, all groundbreaking accomplishments for St Lucia.

In addition, FloTrack honoured world record holders Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Mondo Duplantis as their Professional Athletes of the Year for women and men, respectively. Notably, FloTrack has closely followed Alfred’s journey since her days as a student-athlete at the University of Texas, where she secured multiple national titles for the Longhorns.

Alfred’s triumphs have also garnered regional recognition. This week, she was named one of the Persons of the Year by Everybody’s, a prominent Caribbean-American magazine based in Brooklyn, New York. Alongside fellow Olympic gold medallist Thea LaFond-Gadson of Dominica, Alfred was among six Eastern Caribbean athletes celebrated by the publication.

These latest honours join a growing list of awards Alfred has received in 2024, including those from the Association of National Olympic Committee, the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, and Athletics Weekly.