St Lucia's first Olympic medallist considered withdrawing from Games due to pressure

St Lucia's Julien Alfred became a household name this summer after storming to gold in the 100-metre final at a rainy Stade de France during the Paris Olympic Games.

Her time - 10.72 seconds - saw her become the sport's latest fastest woman in the world.

Reflecting on crossing the finishing line in her historic victory, the 23-year-old told Sky News: "I remember screaming so loud and bursting into tears just knowing all my hard work and sacrifice has paid off and knowing how hard it was to get to that point in my career. All I could do was just cry."

Born in the small Caribbean island with a population of just 180,000 people, Alfred mastered the track - breaking the dominance of heavyweights Jamaica and the US. But to her followers, winning the sport's top honours didn't come as a surprise.

However, it was after winning gold in the 60-metre finals at the Glasgow World Indoor Championships in March 2024 that Alfred contemplated withdrawing from the Olympic Games, citing the expectation of having to become a serial winner and not letting those close to her and importantly her country down.

"I put so much pressure on myself after the World Indoors that I have to deliver every single time. My coach took me off the track, took me out of competition so I can just focus on my mental health and my physical health as well.

"That was such a hard time for me where I felt like there's no way I'm going to continue, there's no way I feel like I have the mental capacity to go to the line again and to represent my country."

She continued: "Suddenly I got more attention, especially after winning the World Indoors, that I was not used to. I'm just so used to doing well and going back to my shell where I just work on the little things and then go back on the line whenever I have to again.

"However, winning Saint Lucia's first global medal. I mean, people talk about the Olympics, it's the first Olympic medal, but winning Saint Lucia's first indoor medal as well - it was a lot of pressure coming off after it and representing my country again."

But this was Alfred's year. Ju Ju as she is known locally didn't just claim gold ahead of America's Sha'carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson, Alfred returned to the track three days later to claim silver in the 200-metre final.

She won not only Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic medal of any colour but also their second.

Celebrations swept Saint Lucia with big screens and watch parties across the island but it was her return in September - with two Olympic medals on show - for her national homecoming where Alfred received a hero's welcome.

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"They're happy they won their first-ever Olympic medals. Not only gold but also silver in the 200 metres as well so being able to celebrate with me, it was such a great feeling being back on the island - everyone was just happy celebrating - you know they really showed up for me."

With age on her side, Julien Alfred has her sights set on 100 and 200-metre gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2025.

With success in her debut Olympic Games, Alfred has well and truly put Saint Lucia on the map, becoming an ambassador that inspires the next generation to follow in her footsteps.