At 23 years old, Alfred, who had already shown promise in the semi-final, took first place in this final race with a national record time of 10.72 seconds. Silver went to Richardson with her 10.87 seconds, and bronze was claimed by fellow American Melissa Jefferson with a time of 10.92 seconds.

Everything was set for Richardson, the dominant force in sprinting in recent times, who had achieved a magnificent treble at the World Championships in Budapest last year, to end the United States' curse in the event. But the Caribbean runner appeared on the scene to give athletics a historic twist.

Under the rain in the Saint Denis stadium and with an explosive start and constant speed, Alfred took the lead from the beginning and managed to dominate the race throughout its development, while Richardson, after a poor start, could only recover to second place.

This victory marks a historic achievement for Saint Lucia, a nation that began participating in the Olympic Games in 1996. "This gold medal is a significant milestone for me and for my country. I hope it inspires investment in sports infrastructure at home. We need better facilities to support our athletes," expressed the champion after crossing the finish line.

The emotional weight of the triumph was not lost on the Saint Lucian athlete, who took a moment to remember her father, who passed away in 2013. "He always believed I could achieve my dreams," said Alfred, her voice trembling with emotion. "I know he would have been immensely proud to see me succeed on this stage."

Julien Alfred's victory represents not only a personal achievement but also a moment of national pride. Until her victory, Saint Lucia had had 31 Olympic athletes since their debut in Atlanta 1996, but had never won a medal. Alfred's feat is a testament to perseverance that serves as inspiration for future generations of athletes in her country.

Alfred has also made her mark in other international competitions. In 2024, she won gold in the 60 metres at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow, setting a world-leading time of 6.98 seconds. This triumph made her the first medallist from Saint Lucia in a world championship of this nature.

A story of overcoming

From an early age, Alfred showed a remarkable aptitude for speed, running against the boys in her primary school, where she was discovered by a librarian who recognised her potential. However, her path to Olympic glory was not straightforward.

Young Alfred lost her father at the age of 12, a harsh blow that almost led her to quit athletics. Nevertheless, with the support of her first club coach, she resumed training and began to excel in youth competitions. At 15, she was already the Central American and Caribbean Under-15 champion and was named Youth Athlete of the Year in Saint Lucia in 2015 and 2017.

With limited resources and modest sports infrastructure, young talents like Alfred have to seek opportunities abroad to develop their skills. Many of them move to nearby Jamaica, which offers more options in this regard and has an ideal culture and sports history for sprinters.

To enhance her potential, Alfred left Saint Lucia to attend St. Catherine High School in Jamaica. There, under a more competitive structure and with top-level coaches, she began to hone her talent. This stage was crucial for her development, allowing her to win silver at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.

Following this, she made the leap to the United States. The Saint Lucian enrolled at the University of Texas under the guidance of coach Edrick Floréal, who also served as her mentor and father figure. He helped her develop a winning mentality and handle the pressure of major competitions. "I am really looking forward to going to the Olympics and trying to perform at the highest level for my country," said the athlete in a recent interview with Olympics. And so she did.