Julien Alfred made history for St. Lucia by winning the Olympic women’s 100m title at Paris 2024, securing the country’s first-ever medal at the Games. In a rain-soaked Stade de France, Alfred dominated the final, crossing the finish line in a national record time of 10.72 seconds.
American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson earned the silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds, followed by her compatriot Melissa Jefferson, who took bronze with a time of 10.92 seconds. Great Britain’s Daryll Neita narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with a time of 10.96 seconds, marking the best performance by a British female sprinter in an Olympic final in 64 years.
Despite her impressive finish, Neita expressed her disappointment at missing out on a medal. “I’m finding it hard to find words at the minute, literally speechless, so close to the medal, so close,” she told BBC Sport. “I’m healthy and I have the 200m to contest. I was so close to that medal and I really want that medal but fourth in the Olympics is something to be proud of.”
Her British teammates, Dina Asher-Smith and Imani Lansiquot, did not advance to the final. Asher-Smith finished fifth in her semi-final with a time of 11.10 seconds, while Lansiquot ran 11.21 seconds and also missed out. Asher-Smith expressed her disappointment, saying, “I’m just disappointed because I’m in great shape and have been in great shape all season. I fully expected to make that final, the race wasn’t even fast. I know I’m in a lot better shape than that. I just go on to the 200m, but again I’m fully disappointed. I should have made that.”
Neita and Asher-Smith will now shift their focus to the 200m, which starts on Sunday morning, in hopes of securing a medal.