The Olympic 100m champion and 200m silver medallist on why the celebrations in Saint Lucia imply a lot to her
Julien Alfred has returned to a heroes welcome in Saint Lucia, with tens of hundreds of individuals out on the streets celebrating her achievements this season.
The 23-year-old gained Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic medals in Paris and the nation has now declared a nationwide vacation to commemorate her 100m gold and 200m silver on September 27.
As quickly as Alfred landed on the tarmac at Hewanorra Worldwide Airport, she was greeted by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, different authorities members and Saint Lucia’s Olympic Committee.
The Olympic 100m champion was then whisked away in a motorcade and in the course of the night tens of hundreds of individuals throughout Saint Lucia received a glimpse of Alfred, who waved to the gang with the nationwide flag draped round her.
There at the moment are additionally plans for a mural of the Saint Lucian exterior her main college and the nationwide vacation has been referred to as “Julien Alfred Day”.
It’s fairly the reception for an athlete who has had a merely unimaginable season.
The world’s quickest girl and Olympic champion is house
Welcome again to Saint Lucia, Julien Alfred.
The official homecoming celebrations start now! pic.twitter.com/OfDJehflWa
— OPMSaintLucia
In addition to her success on the Paris Olympics, Alfred turned world indoor 60m champion, gained the Diamond League 100m crown and ended the season with the second quickest time (10.72) of the yr.
After the Diamond League last in Brussels, AW caught up with Alfred on the previous season.
“I don’t assume it has all sunk in but,” she instructed AW. “I’ve now received an opportunity to return to my house and take into consideration what Saint Lucia has executed for me in my life. It’s actually superb they’re doing this.
“I believe the feelings of the Olympics got here in waves. Once I crossed the road it was the realisation that I really gained. Once I took off my spikes and went to seize my bag I used to be simply so overwhelmed that I used to be the Olympic champion. There have been peaks and troughs.”
Simply earlier than Memorial Van Damme, Alfred opened up about her transfer from Saint Lucia to Jamaica on the age of 14, stating that “I left my mum and siblings behind. My dad died once I was 12” and “my mum had put a observe in my suitcase that learn ‘observe your dream’.”
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred on profitable the Diamond League title in Brussels.
“I’m overwhelmed,” the Saint Lucia sprinter says on the successes she’s loved this summer season.
@TimAdams76 pic.twitter.com/jhnZHleSkl
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 13, 2024
When requested about that by AW in Brussels, Alfred mirrored on her journey within the sport and was grateful to people who had supported her by means of it.
“On the time [when I moved from Saint Lucia to Jamaica], I used to be pondering if I made the unsuitable selection,” Alfred mentioned. “I left my household behind and made some huge sacrifices to get up to now. I’ve now developed as an athlete, particular person and particular person.
“It’s been an extended journey and I’ve had lots of classes to study. Within the instances that I’ve struggled my coach at all times instructed me that I ought to use that as motivation. I didn’t come this far for nothing and each particular person is there for a cause. It’s about taking one step at a time.
“I don’t understand how I’ll course of all of it! Given all that I’ve achieved, particularly anyone that has been by means of a lot of their life, you assume ‘do I even belong right here?’ when the nice occurs. I simply want a while to course of the nice that’s occurring in my life proper now!”
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