St Lucia’s Julien Alfred has credited the grounding she received in Jamaica for her athletics prowess that yielded historic Olympics medals this year.
Saint Lucia’s finest Julien Alfred could not have been a global icon at 23, if it wasn’t for the risk she took as a teenager.
Alfred cruised to the 100m victory at the Paris Olympic Games, giving her country its first-ever medal in the quadrennial showpiece. Her win in France’s capital earned her the title of the fastest woman on the planet.
‘We must break stigma’ – Julien Alfred warns over far-reaching impact of sound powers of the mind
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The 2022 Commonwealth Games 100m silver medalist spent her time training as a teenager in Jamaica, the traditional breeding ground of champions. She credits the Caribbean nation for her prowess and the skills gained during her formative years.
“One of the reasons I went to Jamaica was because of the sprint culture,” she said. “You know, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, all these amazing athletes. Wanting to be a part of that culture.
‘The world will know my name’- Julien Alfred reveals thoughts before 100m Olympic final against Sha’Carri Richardson
‘The world will know my name’- Julien Alfred reveals thoughts before 100m Olympic final against Sha’Carri Richardson
“And when you hear Jamaica, you know about sprinting, the top athletes.” While sometimes decisions are easy to make, Alfred said she sought advice from her childhood coach and her mother who approved the move.
“So I made a decision along with my childhood coach and my mum for me to go to Jamaica, to come to train and continue my career in track & field.”
Jamaica, the nation where each of the Olympic 100m gold medalists from Beijing 2008 to Tokyo 2020 was born, is famous for producing world beaters in sprints. The US has produced the largest number of women’s Olympic 100m champions.
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