Julien Alfred Can’t Keep Calm as She Meets Longtime Idol Usain Bolt Ahead of 100m Season Opener

“I’ve always wanted to be Usain Bolt, ever since I was little,” Julien Alfred once confessed. “He was more than my idol. It’s incredible what he has achieved in his career. Unfortunately, I have never met him.” Those words came from a place of deep admiration, not just from an athlete, but from a girl who grew up dreaming, sprinting, and believing in greatness because of the legend she watched on screen. For years, that dream remained just that — a dream. She never got to meet him. But on the track, eerie echoes of Bolt’s legacy followed her. 

Last year in Paris, when the skies opened and rain poured down, many were reminded of Bolt’s unforgettable run in Moscow 2013 — lightning, rain, and all. Like him, Alfred was undeterred. Even with the spotlight fixed on Sha’Carri Richardson, she didn’t flinch. She ran fearlessly and won the Olympic gold in the women’s 100m event. However, what most didn’t know was that in the lead-up to that race, the 24-year-old had been watching clips of Usain Bolt on repeat. His focus. His celebration. His belief. Those videos gave her something extra — the edge that pushed her beyond her limits. Still, one thing was missing: a chance to express gratitude. That all changed on June 11.

The very day, Citius Mag posted a clip on X featuring Julien Alfred mid-interview at the Bislett Stadium, ahead of the Oslo Diamond League. During the interview, she was unexpectedly told that Usain Bolt was present at the venue and the manager wanted her to meet Bolt. Without hesitation, JuJu sprang into action and rushed off to see her longtime idol. Reflecting on the emotional moment afterward, she said, “I mean, he’s been my idol like since I was younger, I always wanted to be like I always wanted to be just like him and I went to school in Jamaica for three years didn’t meet him and I finally get a chance to meet him so it’s such an honor.”

For a girl who chased greatness inspired by a legend, it wasn’t just a meeting. It was a full-circle moment — the kind that turns dreams into memories that last a lifetime. Speaking about the conversion of dreams into memories, coming from an island country, Julien had to foster a firm belief in seeing herself on the global stage. Fortunately, she was again inspired by Bolt from that perspective. How so? 

Last year, in a heartfelt interview with The Times, Julien Alfred shared, “I never saw being from a small place as a negative. I never thought it would make things impossible. I watched Usain Bolt be the fastest man and just knew what I wanted.” Those words weren’t just reflections; they were a promise. A promise born in the hills of Saint Lucia, sparked by the lightning-fast strides of a Jamaican legend. 

Julien has already done what many only dream of: she’s stood atop an Olympic podium, gold medal in hand. But the question now lingers in the air: Is one gold enough for JuJu? Or is this just the beginning? On June 12, she takes the next step — the opening stride in what could be a historic journey. 

Julien Alfred is ready to start her 100m journey in the fresh season 

“I have a target on my back now,” Julien Alfred delivered those words with calm confidence during the pre-meet press conference at Bislett Stadium on June 10, not as a warning, but as a fact. And she’s earned every bit of that spotlight.

This season, Alfred has been nothing short of electric. At the Tom Jones Memorial, she blazed through the women’s 200m in 21.88 seconds, a time that sent shockwaves across the track world. Watching from the stands that day? None other than Olympic legend Justin Gatlin — a fitting witness to a rising star.

But perhaps her biggest statement came in April at the Miramar Invitational, where she rewrote history. Alfred stormed to victory in the women’s 300m, clocking 36.05 seconds — a new Saint Lucian national record — and outpacing none other than Shericka Jackson, the reigning world champion. 

Now, with every starting gun and finish line, Julien Alfred carries more than just the hopes of a small island nation. She carries expectations. Attention. And yes — that target on her back. But judging by her form, that’s exactly where she wants it.