Alfred storms to Olympic 100m gold in Paris
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…
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.