Julien Alfred: "It's really amazing Saint Lucia is doing this"
Julien Alfred has returned to a heroes welcome in Saint Lucia, with tens of thousands of people out on the streets celebrating her achievements this season.
The 23-year-old won Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic medals in Paris and the country has now declared a national holiday to commemorate her 100m gold and 200m silver on September 27.
As soon as Alfred landed on the tarmac at Hewanorra International Airport, she was greeted by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, other government members and Saint Lucia's Olympic Committee.
The Olympic 100m champion was then whisked away in a motorcade and during the evening tens of thousands of people across Saint Lucia got a glimpse of Alfred, who waved to the crowd with the national flag draped around her.
There are now also plans for a mural of the Saint Lucian outside her primary school and the national holiday has been called "Julien Alfred Day".
It's quite the reception for an athlete who has had a simply incredible season.
The world's fastest woman and Olympic champion is home 🇱🇨 Welcome back to Saint Lucia, Julien Alfred.
The official homecoming celebrations begin now! pic.twitter.com/OfDJehflWa
— OPMSaintLucia🇱🇨 (@opmsaintlucia) September 24, 2024
As well as her success at the Paris Olympics, Alfred became world indoor 60m champion, won the Diamond League 100m crown and ended the season with the second quickest time (10.72) of the year.
After the Diamond League final in Brussels, AW caught up with Alfred on the past season.
"I don’t think it has all sunk in yet," she told AW. "I’ve now got a chance to go back to my home and think about what Saint Lucia has done for me in my life. It’s really amazing they’re doing this.
"I think the emotions of the Olympics came in waves. When I crossed the line it was the realisation that I actually won. When I took off my spikes and went to grab my bag I was just so overwhelmed that I was the Olympic champion. There were peaks and troughs."
Just before Memorial Van Damme, Alfred opened up about her move from Saint Lucia to Jamaica at the age of 14, stating that "I left my mum and siblings behind. My dad died when I was 12" and "my mum had put a note in my suitcase that read ‘follow your dream’."
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred on winning the Diamond League title in Brussels.
"I'm overwhelmed," the Saint Lucia sprinter says on the successes she's enjoyed this summer.
🎙️ @TimAdams76 pic.twitter.com/jhnZHleSkl
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 13, 2024
When asked about that by AW in Brussels, Alfred reflected on her journey in the sport and was grateful to those that had supported her through it.
"At the time [when I moved from Saint Lucia to Jamaica], I was thinking if I made the wrong choice," Alfred said. "I left my family behind and made some big sacrifices to get to this point. I’ve now developed as an athlete, person and individual.
"It’s been a long journey and I’ve had a lot of lessons to learn. In the times that I’ve struggled my coach always told me that I should use that as motivation. I didn’t come this far for nothing and every person is there for a reason. It’s about taking one step at a time.
"I don't know how I'll process all of it! Given all that I've achieved, especially somebody that has been through so much in their life, you think 'do I even belong here?' when the good happens. I just need some time to process the good that's happening in my life right now!"
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