Julien Alfred: Olympic champion's historic spikes fetch $75,000 at charity auction

A pair of track spikes worn by Saint Lucia's golden girl Julien Alfred this season were sold for an incredible US$75,000 at a recent charity auction.

The event, "Power and Grace: An Evening in Honour of Julien Alfred," hosted by sponsor BodyHoliday, raised over US$100,000 for the athlete's foundation on October 11.

Alfred's custom PUMA Nitro sprint spikes were worn when she won her second consecutive Wanda Diamond League 100m title and secured Saint Lucia's first-ever World Championships medal—a bronze in the 100m at Tokyo 2025.

The successful bid was placed by American basketball coach and businessman Kevin Graves, who serves as a mentor and manager to NBA star Bam Adebayo, and he will now possesses a significant piece of Saint Lucian sports history, with the funds raised dedicated to supporting the next generation of the nation's athletes.

During his second visit to Saint Lucia this year, Graves spoke about the importance of supporting charitable causes like the Alfred Foundation before making the winning bid for the autographed footwear. The bidding for the spikes, which were mounted on a piece of track featuring Saint Lucia's "758" area code, began at US$1,500.

Other items auctioned included the PUMA jersey and bib Alfred wore at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships. This lot was sold for US$1,900 to former professional basketball player Marcellus Bax Stiede, who has announced his candidacy for the Castries North constituency in the upcoming General Elections.

The fundraising efforts were bolstered by several significant contributions. The Alfred Foundation received a US$25,000 anonymous donation, while the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority presented $5,000. Andrew Barnard, CEO of Sunswept Resorts/BodyHoliday, contributed US$10,000, and Bay Gardens donated US$5,000.

The star-studded evening, held at BodyHoliday’s Firefly Villa in Saint Lucia, also had the presence of her fellow track stars Rhasidat Adeleke and Vernon Norwood in attendance, both of whom declared their intention to visit the Island again in the future.

This year, Alfred continued her historic feats for her country by winning her second consecutive Diamond League title in the 100m event. She also claimed a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships - Saint Lucia's first medal in the event in history.