This is the fastest woman on earth. And she’s from St. Lucia.
A new star is born.
The rain began to pour inside the Stade De France, and with less than an hour to go before the women’s 100m final, there were fears that it would be postponed. It didn’t.
This was the pinnacle of sprinting for the women, where four years of training were summed up into less than 11 seconds. At that point, you had to be ready or not. Only the very best got to weather this kind of storm. Technically speaking, it is usually not great for athletes to run in these conditions, but once the officials saw the rain ease up a bit, they called the athletes to the line.
Sha’Carri Richardson had been that star girl of the show before the games, the enigma with her fuzzy hair and acrylic nails, but after she had lost to Julien Alfred in the semis so there was a reason for doubt. Still, many felt there was a comeback in her, similar to what we say at last year’s World Championship in Budapest.
Budapest, Hungary
August 19-27, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris
It was Alfred who made history in a seismic way for the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia, which has a population of under 200,000. At just 23 years old, she secured the nation’s first-ever Olympic medal, marking a monumental achievement for her country. Given her age and incredible talent, it’s unlikely this will be St. Lucia’s only Olympic success.
Basically a repeat of the semifinal, just faster. Alfred ran a 10.72 St Lucian national record. That puts her in the top 10 all-time. She won by 0.15 seconds, the biggest winning margin in a women’s 100m Olympic final since Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce in Beijing in 2008.
Daryl Neita, photo by British Olympic Association
Typically, athletes with a 60m strength struggle to hold their form and speed at the top end. That doesn’t happen for Alfred. She’s been consistently good this entire year and ran through the tape. Jamaica’s dominance of this Olympic event, having won the last four women’s 100m finals — is over.
Truth is, athletics isn’t always a linear line. As variables like injuries, training, coaching, and even bigger things like pressure at the top level come into play, you begin to realize it can all go south. You can flip the coin, and it is also a perfect indication that the athlete might be the next big thing. Alfred had been knocking on the door and many didn’t even give her the chance to claim the title. Before Paris, it was all about Richardson and the Jamaicans.
Alfred is no greenhorn in the athletics circuit, and neither is she a chummy face in the track world. But what undoubtedly one can’t accuse her of is her immense talent, one that was in full display on the wet track of the Stade De France.
Her talent is undeniable and bordering on otherworldly — but her physique and international experience had made some wonder out loud how she might hold her own when the Olympics came around. This was a lady that had dominated the NCAA circuit and become the World indoor champion in March. If they weren’t getting all of the accolades then, this win would usher in a new realm of adoration.
Richardson, who hugged the limelight ahead of the Olympics, was second in 10.87s with her compatriot, Melisa Jefferson third in 10.92s. There was to be no fairytale ending for the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith as the former had withdrawn from her semis potentially due to her not being able to warm up while the Ta Lou-Smith seemed to pull a hamstring in the final and could just only walkthrough.
Alfred will forever remember this day. Who wouldn’t? St. Lucia has never seen a track star quite like her. The island nation is undoubtedly thrilled to have such a superstar representing them. In the summer of 2022, the Saint Lucian government held a grand homecoming to celebrate her athletic achievements. This time around, she might even receive a title from the president in honor of her monumental success.
