How One Athlete Can Inspire a Nation
How One Athlete Can Inspire a Nation
A Closer Look at Julien Alfred - The World's Fastest Woman
Whatsup Squad,
I love exploring how sports can uplift communities.
And Julien Alfred’s story may be the best example in the last decade.
At only 23 years old, she won Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medal and has become a source of pride for the entire country.
Where It All Started
Saint Lucia has a population of less than 180,000, which makes neighboring Jamaica 16x larger!
For Julien Alfred, nicknamed “JuJu”, her athletic story began at the Ciceron R.C Combined School, an elementary school on the outskirts of Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital.
In 2nd grade, she won all of the races against the boys at the school’s field day, and the librarian spoke highly of her speed to a local track coach.
“Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling, with no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place.”
Then, at 9 years old, she began her track career with that same coach and the “Survivors” track club.
JuJu’s father was one of her biggest supporters, and when he passed away a few years later, she stepped away from the sport.
However, her coach refused to let her talent go to waste.
In an interview with SportsMax, JuJu recounted:
“He waited for me at the Ciceron bus stop every single time, and took me to the Mindoo Phillip Park for training”
It took her two full years to officially return to the track.
She went on to represent the club regionally, but she felt like she needed a different environment to fully tap into her potential.
Hardly Home, but Always Repping
After becoming the Central American and Caribbean U15 champion, she moved to Jamaica to attend St. Catherine High School and to see how far she could go with the sport.
By this time, she had been dubbed the most promising athlete ever in St Lucia.
Given the elevated competition in Jamaica (especially at Champs), the move was a major adjustment.
"It's very hard out here. I am only 15-years-old. I stay with the vice principal. I go to school; from school, go training; from training, go home; do homework; and I have to be very independent at this stage of my life. So it is very hard for me,"
Away from family and friends, and with 30,000 spectators watching, JuJu won bronze in the 100m and 200m at Champs in 2016.
Her success in Jamaica, along with a first-place finish at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017, landed her a full scholarship to the University of Texas.
At Texas, she became a 3x NCAA champion and the 2023 Bowerman award-winner (the highest accolade in collegiate track and field).
Instead of being crushed by the pressure of representing her entire island, she was buoyed by the support back home.
Sometimes when I feel too pressured, I call my mother and tell her that I want to come back home, but I have a job to do. I have a mission to accomplish. So I have to keep my head on and keep moving forward.
Olympic Glory
Just one year removed from college, JuJu stormed to victory in the women’s 100m in Paris, claiming Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal and first gold.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports in Saint Lucia organized four watch parties and urged residents to come together in support.
The Summer Olympics broadcast reached half of the world’s population, and with Saint Lucia’s search traffic skyrocketing, JuJu finally put her country on the map!
Returning to Her Roots
Having left the island in 2015 for Jamaica, Julien has not actively lived in Saint Lucia for nearly 10 years.
But on Tuesday, Saint Lucia rolled out the red carpet to give their double Olympic medallist a proper homecoming.
Marked with days of celebration culminating in a free concert, “Julien Alfred Day” is set for tomorrow, September 27th.
That said, her impact in St. Lucia goes beyond this week, and even this summer.
This past April, she launched the Julien Alfred Foundation.
Supported by her generous sponsors, Puma and First National Bank, the foundation aims to provide critical support to the island's youth, addressing pressing needs for school supplies and athletic equipment.
And her grand vision is for a new stadium.
Final Thoughts
JuJu’s journey highlights not only the power of sports, but also the challenges that athletes from developing nations face on their quest for greatness.
It truly takes a village.
And with the Julien Alfred Foundation, she is making sure that the journey is smoother for Saint Lucia’s next athletic prodigy.
Her success and fame will elevate Saint Lucia’s tourism-dependent economy, particularly in marketing the country as a vacation destination.
All it takes is one athlete to change the trajectory of an entire country.
Until next time ✌🏾
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