St Lucia makes Olympic history as Julien Alfred gives tiny nation gold medal in women’s 100m sprint

In a stunning show of courage and spirit, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred wrote her name in the history book by winning the gold medal in the women’s 100m sprint event, beating the favourite, American runner Sha’Carri Richardson, on Saturday.

This was the very first Olympic medal won by the Caribbean nation, with a population of 179,000, in the history of the world’s greatest sporting event. And this was the track and field Olympic medal every country dreams of.

The spectacular triumph by Julien Alfred makes her now officially “the fastest woman in the world”, as the winner of the 100m sprint gold — the most coveted medal in track and field — is usually called. The winner of the men’s 100m sprint gold is acknowledged as the fastest man in the world.

Julien Alfred set a new national record of 10.72 seconds to make it to the top position on the podium while Americans Sha’carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson won silver and bronze, respectively.

All eyes had been on Sha’carri Richardson who was a firm favourite to win the gold medal before the start of the race. But Julien Alfred changed all equations with her commanding show on the track.

The St Lucian runner became the eighth fastest woman in history on her first appearance at a Games.

St Lucia had previously fielded its athletes in seven Olympics but failed to win a medal; the wait is finally over, and its first medal is nothing less than the cherished yellow metal.

Alfred also won the gold medal in the 60 metres at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, and is the joint North American indoor record holder for the 60 metres. She was a silver medallist in the 100 metre sprint at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Her 100m sprint gold is in complete contrast to the performance of the world’s most populated nation, India, which has sent 117 athletes to the Paris Olympics but has still managed to win only three bronze medals so far.