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Saint Lucia's golden girl Julien Alfred had one of the greatest rookie year in history after sweeping all titles available in the 2024 season.
Many athletes dream of just getting to the final of a major championship in their rookie year, but not for Saint Lucia's golden girl Julien Alfred who had one of the greatest in history after sweeping all titles available in the 2024 season.
Following her historic breakout 2024 season, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J. Pierre announced September 27 as “Julien Alfred Day” - a national holiday, after her iconic feat at the Paris Olympic Games, where she became the country's first gold medallist in history.
Julien Alfred's monumental 2024 season exploits
The 23-year-old kicked off her golden championship year at the world indoor championships in Glasgow, where she stormed to an outstanding world-leading time of 6.98s to become the World Indoor Champion, thus becoming Saint Lucia's first-ever gold medal winner in any event.
Moving outdoors in her first Olympic Games, Alfred defeated pre-championship favorite Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m final with a blazing new personal best of 10.72s. Not resting on her oars, she claimed the silver medal in the 200m event behind Gabby Thomas, thus leaving Paris with two medals in her Olympic debut.
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Finally, closing off her monumental 2024 season, she overcame a tough challenge posed by a strong field to win her first Diamond League 100m title in Brussels.
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18:40 - 25.09.2024
Top 10 world's fastest women: Sha'Carri Richardson topples Julien Alfred in elite 2024 list
Meet the world's fastest women for the 2024 season toppled by Sha'Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred.
With her exceptional season, Alfred scooped all championship titles this year as the World Indoor Champion, Olympic champion, and Diamond League Champion, thereby dethroning American speed queen Richardson as the face of women's sprint in 2024 and the most decorated female sprinter of the year.
Julien Alfred's iconic homecoming brings Saint Lucia to a standstill
The new speed queen returned to a grand reception in Saint Lucia for her homecoming and has been making news headlines globally, having received several honours and recognition for her historic feat this season in appreciation of her record-breaking year.
The four-day homecoming celebration capped with a national holiday on September 27 - Julien Alfred Day, with the previous day's celebrations bringing Saint Lucia to a standstill in honour of their heroine.
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16:28 - 25.09.2024
A picture worth a thousand words: Little girl's awe of Julien Alfred's Olympic medals ignites belief of Saint Lucia brewing more Olympians
A motivational million-dollar photo of a little girl admiring Julien Alfred's Olympic medals has captivated track fans, inspiring the notion that Saint Lucia will be brewing the next set of Olympians.
Aside from the special day declared and other rewards, Saint Lucia's Tourism Authority announced Alfred as a Tourism Ambassador - a position that no top athlete currently has in their various countries.
The talented speedster has made Saint Lucia a tourist destination since she comfortably bagged the 100m Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics, now making millions worldwide come to know about the tiny Caribbean country with 180,000 population.
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18:56 - 26.09.2024
Saint Lucia: Julien Alfred receives national honour rarely given to athletes in recognition of her Olympic exploits
Olympic champion Julien Alfred received a national honour rarely occupied by the world's top athletes.
During the Olympic period, Saint Lucia also became second only to the United States regarding online searches with her fame setting the trend quite high on Google searches.
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![[WATCH] - American internet personality rubbishes Sha'Carri Richardson's speed with Kylian Mbappe](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/09122024/78801d4a-2581-4961-a9ec-d7d57413dc78.png?operations=fit(600:))
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