by Ben Ayuko
contact info: benayuko@gmail.com
{image by Reuters}
Julien Alfred ran the race of her life- literally– to claim the Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s 100m event in Paris, 2024 to become Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic Champion.
Jamaican veteran, Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, dropped out of the race after sustaining an injury while warming up. Marie-Jose Ta-Lou-Smith, the veteran from Cote d’Ivoire also picked up an injury during the race, thus bringing an end to her Olympic career on the lowest of notes. A shame for them both, but an advantage for the rest of the field as 2 of the very best athletes who were, no doubt, both going for Gold, had just dropped out.
Julien Alfred was definitely ready to take full advantage of the situation. She went into the race, no doubt high on confidence, after beating fan favourite, Sha’Carri Richardson, in the semi-final on her way to the final.
The 2024 60m World Indoor Champion was in fine form going so far as to deliver, not just a personal best, but a National Record (10.72sec) on the grandest of stages to claim the grandest of prizes- the very first medal her nation has ever received from the Games since they were established in 1896.
Richardson, perhaps feeling a little bit shaken after their brief meeting in the semi-final, could only settle for the Silver. The World champion will have to bide her time should want to get her hands on the ultimate.
Melissa Jefferson rounded off the podium, taking 3rd place. Her Bronze Medal the first she has ever taken after placing 8th in the 2022 World Championships and missing out altogether in 2023.
Daryll Neita, from England, couldn’t find the pace she has previously shown as she narrowly missed out on a medal in 4th place.
Track veteran, Mujinga Kambundji from Switzerland finished in 6th.
Indeed, it was a night of Firsts, and not just for Saint Lucia.
The Carribean island of Dominica will be forever changed after one of their own claimed their Nation’s first ever medal at the Olympic Games. And my, wasn’t it worth waiting all these years to eventually see Thea Lafond take full control of the Women’s Triple Jump event at the Paris Olympics, 2024 and claim Olympic Gold.
Setting a National Record of 15.02 metres, she, like Julien Alfred, gave the performance of her life to bring unbridled joy and jubilation to her Nation at the Olympic Games.
She was the only athlete who jumped beyond 15 metres on the day.