Fresh off her 24th birthday, Saint Lucian sprint star Julien Alfred will open her 100m season on Thursday at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway—a historic meeting sold out since February. But for Alfred, the trip has already delivered two unforgettable gifts: a peaceful birthday away from the spotlight and a chance meeting with her childhood hero, Usain Bolt.
“It’s been really good,” Alfred said during a pre-meet interview on Wednesday. “I got a chance to spend my birthday here in Norway—pretty chill. I had practice earlier on today. I just feel relaxed. I love the weather today. I'm just ready for tomorrow. God’s willing, it’s going to be even better.”
Alfred will step onto the track for her first 100m of the season, coming off a dominant 2024 campaign that saw her capture Olympic gold and claim the title of the fastest woman in the world—a label that now follows her everywhere.
Alfred made history last season when she became her country’s first-ever Olympic medallist with gold in the women’s 100m and silver in the 200m, yet those were not the only pieces of silverware she picked up in 2024. A few weeks after the Olympics, Alfred also became the first St. Lucian Diamond League champion in history, with victory at the series final in Brussels cementing her status as the woman to beat over 100m.
On Thursday, she will launch her title defence with her first Diamond League appearance. Though she goes up against a strong field which includes British stars Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, few would bet against the St. Lucian superstar.
With those accomplishments has come a new level of attention, responsibility, and expectation—on and off the track. Alfred admits the shift in her life has been significant, but also rewarding in ways that go beyond medals and records.
“My life has changed for the better,” she said. “Especially being able to represent my small island of Saint Lucia with just under 200,000 people. I’ve become a tourism ambassador, I’m being recognised more, and there’s more pressure now—there’s a target on my back. But I’m ready for every challenge.”
Meeting Bolt, the man who inspired her journey into athletics, added an emotional layer to the Oslo experience.
"He's been my idol since I was younger. I've always wanted to be just like him and I went to school in Jamaica for three years, didn't meet him and I finally got a chance to meet him and it's such an honour," she said.
The race itself will be a true test. Oslo, one of the most respected stops on the Wanda Diamond League circuit, features a tough field. But Alfred is undaunted.
“My coach always says he would never send me to the line unless I’m fully prepared to compete,” she said. “So I’m looking forward to that—great competition and a special place to start the 100m season.”
While her talent and track record command attention, Alfred continues to use her growing platform to promote the island that raised her.
“Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman,” she beamed. “We have the only drive-in volcano, amazing chocolate production, and some of the most welcoming people you'll ever meet. It’s not just about the beauty of the island, it’s about the kindness of the people. I think Saint Lucians show the world what genuine hospitality looks like.”
With Olympic gold and the world watching her every move, Alfred remains grounded—balancing the expectations of stardom with the quiet pride of a young woman representing her nation on the global stage.
“I’ve realised I have a talent that’s meant to glorify God,” she said. “So I run with purpose. And I carry Saint Lucia with me wherever I go.”