- “When I looked at Usain Bolt, I only saw the medals,” recalls Olympic champion Julien Alfred. “Then going through it myself, I realised that it’s not always a straight line and careers are not always linear. I, like others, had to go through hardships and I think it’s important I’m honest about that.”
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 02.02.2026) :: With an Olympic title as well as a host of historic major medals across World and Commonwealth Games secured before reaching her mid-twenties, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Saint Lucian’s journey to the summit of her sport had been problem-free.
Particularly given the apparent visible ease at which the sprinter has claimed many of her honours.
It is only when she takes a moment to pause and reflect on those successes that the athlete herself realises – and appreciates – how her powerful, passionate performances have largely been driven by losses. Not just on, but also off the track.
“From a young age I just wanted to win, but growing up we also had financial struggles and so I saw it (life as a professional athlete) as a way for me to improve my way of living as well as my family’s,”.
“One of the biggest challenges I had was losing my dad in 2013 (aged 12) and I actually left the sport because my motivation just wasn’t there after he passed. I was grieving for a long time.”
Alfred admits she owes her childhood coach “more or less everything” as he, Cuthbert Modeste, came looking for her and insisted he would “do anything” to get her back on the track.
For many in the Caribbean this ultimately requires the “huge sacrifice” of leaving their homeland and at the age of 14 she relocated to Jamaica in order to “try and become the best in the world.”
Alfred made significant progress and in 2017 claimed her first landmark 100m title for the country of her birth, by winning Saint Lucia’s first-ever Commonwealth Youth Games gold, in the 100m in the Bahamas.
It was an achievement which cemented her affection for the movement and five years on, after switching her base to Texas to compete in the United States’ college (NCAA) system, she would claim 100m senior silver at Birmingham 2022, behind Jamaican legend Elaine Thompson-Herah.
“I was about 21 and it was straight after the World Championships (where she was disqualified in the 100m semi-finals) and my coach was like, ‘hey, we're gonna go to Commonwealth Games and redeem ourselves’,” recalls Alfred.
“I got a silver medal behind Elaine, who I didn’t know much about until she won the double (Olympic) gold in 2016, but I really admire her and it was a real honour to line-up against her.
“Since then, I’ve grown as an individual and now I see her as not just someone with the two (Olympic) gold medals, but as one of my competitors as well.”
Cr-Glasgow2026
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