St Lucian queen: Olympic champ Julien Alfred returns home to

St Lucian queen: Olympic champ Julien Alfred returns home to heroes welcome

St Lucia’s double Olympic medallist Julien Alfred returned home to a rapturous welcome at the Hewanorra International Airport on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, other government members, and St. Lucia Olympic Committee personnel were among the official welcome party.

An emotional Alfred was at a loss for words.

“I don’t want to get emotional, but today I really want to give thanks,” Alfred said.

The 23-year-old, who copped gold and silver in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Games, expressed gratitude to family, friends, her village, the government, her coach Edrick Floréal, and Cuthbert ‘Twatiné’ Modeste for their unwavering support along the way.

“Even when I gave up, he [Modeste] came back to look for me in Ciceron. So many people have guided me and helped me to get to this point, and I really just want to say thank you to all of you, even those I haven’t mentioned. I just want to say thank you,” she shared.

“I have dreamt of this day for such a long time—just being an inspiration to the youth of St Lucia, wanting to give back and wanting to inspire them so we can have many more Levern Spencers and many more Daren Sammys and many more like myself,” Alfred added.

Prior to her Olympic Games exploits, Alfred also copped the World Indoor 60m title as she consistently etched her name in the annals of St Lucia’s and the world’s sporting history.

While many now share in her success, Alfred highlighted that the journey was by no means smooth sailing.

“It was truly a rocky road. Many days I wanted to just give up, throw in the towel, and just say, ‘I’m done’. But my village, those persons who were around me, I just want to say thank you for just everything you have done for me. I really appreciate it,” Alfred noted.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre pointed out that Alfred’s athletic prowess was a reminder that the potential for excellence is very much alive in the island with a population of just over 179,000.

“Julien’s recent achievements at the Olympic Games transcend sports. They have been a source of inspiration to all St. Lucians, especially our youth,” Pierre noted.

Meanwhile, Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir likened Alfred’s success to a blessing from God, as St. Lucia is the only nation named after a woman.

“And it is a woman that has taken us to the pinnacle of the entire globe. We are blessed because we have the perfect representative of a St. Lucian taking us to that level. Somebody who is kind. Somebody who loves people, somebody who is generous and humble. That person is Julien Alfred,” Casimir declared.

Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist and 2024 bronze medalist in the 100-metre hurdles, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning world record holder in the 400-metre hurdles and four-time Olympic gold medalist, were honored as part of the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on Friday night.

The induction ceremony, held at the Central Bank Center, celebrated the achievements of these two track and field stars along with fellow inductees John Cropp (administrator/coach), Henrik Larsen (rifle), Jodie Meeks (men’s basketball), and Corey Peters (football).

Camacho-Quinn, who represented the University of Kentucky from 2016 to 2018, took to Instagram to reflect on her journey to this prestigious honour, sharing her gratitude and reflecting on her struggles. “I think I’m still lost for words,” she wrote. “I started at the University of Kentucky a semester late. Spring of 2015 and was forced to redshirt. I wasn’t the most well-behaved student in high school and when I finally got my stuff together, it was too late. This caused me to stay home fall semester of 2014 and take online classes. But it was a part of my journey. This is MY story.”

She went on to thank those who supported her through her college years, a time she admits was not always easy. “College wasn’t the easiest either. But everyone who truly believed in me and stuck by my side, Thank you.❤️ Thank you Mommy & Daddy. Thank you to my brothers James, Robert & Miguel. Thank you Sarah. Thank you Coach Flo. Thank you Barb & Passion. & Thank you God,” she shared.

Though her college career spanned only three years, Camacho-Quinn’s time at Kentucky was highly impactful. She won three NCAA titles—twice in the 100-metre hurdles (2016, 2018) and once in the 4x100m relay (2017). A six-time SEC champion, she also set four school records and remains one of the most accomplished athletes in Kentucky’s track and field history.

“The journey wasn’t the easiest, but it was well worth it. Although I only got to represent for three years at Kentucky, those three years taught me so much about myself & life. Six years later after graduating, I am now a part of THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HALL OF FAME!” she concluded.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who spent just one year at Kentucky in 2018 before turning professional, has become one of the most decorated athletes in the world. McLaughlin-Levrone set the collegiate record in the 400m hurdles during her time at UK, running 52.75 seconds to win the SEC Championship, a mark that still stands today. Her brief collegiate career also saw her win NCAA and SEC titles and break the world junior indoor 400m record.

Since leaving Kentucky, McLaughlin-Levrone has taken the track and field world by storm, winning four Olympic gold medals—two each in Tokyo and Paris—and setting the world record in the 400m hurdles in both Olympics. She most recently shattered her own record at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a stunning time of 50.37 seconds. In addition to her individual accolades, McLaughlin-Levrone anchored the U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team to gold in Paris, setting an American record in the process.

CWI launches online ticket sales for WI vs England T20I & CG United ODI Series in Antigua, Barbados, and St. Lucia

On the heels of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in the Caribbean in June, the Men in Maroon will welcome decades-long rivals, England back to the region’s shores.

The series, dubbed The Rivalry, is set to kick off from Thursday 31st October, and will be played in both T20I and ODI formats until Sunday 17th November. Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia are the three islands chosen to host the highly anticipated match-up.

Starting the action at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Antigua, the home team takes on England with two ODIs, sponsored by CG United, on the 31st of October and 2nd of November at 2pm and 9:30am, respectively.

Both teams then travel to Barbados where the action continues at the Kensington Oval for the 3rd ODI on Wednesday 6th November at 2pm. The World Cup final hosts will also see the first T20I games on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November, both at 4pm.

The tour wraps up at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia with three T20I matches on Thursday 14th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November. All matches begin at 4pm.

Fans can purchase tickets securely in advance from https://tickets.windiescricket.com to save tickets directly to their mobile device or print at home for presentation at the venue, avoiding the need to travel to or queue at the box offices. Fans can also take advantage of other benefits such as exclusive advance ticket windows and discounts.

Box offices will open several days in advance of the first match in each series.

Olympic 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney awarded USD$10,000 at homecoming ceremony in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Paris Olympics 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney was celebrated during a welcome home ceremony at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, where it was announced that she would receive USD $10,000 in recognition of her outstanding performance at the Games.

Maloney delivered a remarkable performance in the 800m final at the Paris Olympics, finishing fourth with a time of 1:57.66. In a fiercely contested race, Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson clinched gold in 1:56.72, followed by Ethiopia’s Tisge Duguma, who secured silver in a lifetime best of 1:57.15, and Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who claimed bronze in 1:57.42. Maloney’s near-podium finish was a significant achievement, especially considering the financial challenges she faced during her preparation for the Olympics.

The St Vincent Times reported that during the ceremony, Maloney reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude to those who supported her along the way. “This journey was not an easy one, but the support I received made all the difference,” she said. With her sights set on further success, Maloney spoke about the road ahead and her aspirations for medals at the 2028 Olympics.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves praised Maloney for her perseverance and announced that the government would present her with USD $10,000 in recognition of her accomplishments and the pride she has brought to the nation.

Maloney’s achievements have also earned her a place in the SVG delegation at the upcoming United Nations meeting, where she will accompany Prime Minister Gonsalves as he delivers his speech. This opportunity marks another milestone in her growing profile as a prominent athlete and representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A grand celebration has been planned for Maloney on October 9th, where the nation will come together to honor her accomplishments and contributions to Vincentian sports. Her performance at the Paris Olympics, coupled with her resilience and ambition, has cemented her status as a national hero and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes.