Sha'Carri is a very sweet person' - Julien Alfred opens up on her

Julien Alfred has opened up on her budding rivarly with Sha’Carri Richardson, revealing the relationship both stars have on and off the track.

Olympic 100-meter champion Julien Alfred is setting records and breaking down barriers, both on and off the track.

Following her stunning Olympic victory, where she clocked a blazing 10.72 seconds, the 23-year-old from Saint Lucia has given fans a glimpse into her relationships with some of her fiercest rivals, including American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson.

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While fans might see the duo’s on-track battles as high-stakes rivalry, Alfred shares that her connections with competitors like Richardson go deeper, highlighting the mutual respect that exists even amidst intense competition.

Alfred’s journey to Olympic gold—and her first medal for Saint Lucia—was not without challenges. Competing in the 33rd Olympic Games, Alfred captured both a 100-meter gold and a 200-meter silver, the latter earned in a close race with Gabby Thomas.

Her surprise victory over reigning world champion Richardson in the 100 meters marked one of the most thrilling moments of the Games, placing Alfred firmly among track and field’s elite.

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Though she dominated in Paris, the competition between Alfred and Richardson resumed shortly afterward at the Zurich Diamond League, where Richardson edged Alfred out with a powerful finish in the final 40 meters to post a time of 10.84 seconds.

Alfred, who had rocketed off to a strong start, settled for second at 10.88 seconds. This friendly back-and-forth between the two sprinters hints at a rivalry that’s likely to captivate track fans in the coming years. But as Alfred emphasizes, the rivalry lives on the track—not off it.

“Whenever I see my competitors, I do say hi to them,” Alfred said, speaking candidly about her dynamic with Richardson and other sprinters.

“On Instagram, when somebody posts a picture, I will respond, and vice versa. We have a quick chat in our DMs. What people see as rivalry on the track, people can be nice as well off it. Sha’Carri is a very sweet person to me, and so I have no issues with her.”

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Alfred’s open and warm nature has earned her admiration not only from Richardson but also from other prominent sprinters. British star Dina Asher-Smith, who recently reflected on Alfred’s win in the 100 meters at the Brussels Diamond League, had high praise for the Saint Lucian champion.

Asher-Smith shared her excitement about Alfred’s homecoming and the celebration awaiting her back in Saint Lucia, joking, “I am looking forward to the pictures on social media when she goes home because I do not think she will be ready for the reception!”