If Julien Alfred has a list of her favorite track meets, the Oslo Diamond League 2025 is certainly going down on it. Because what she experienced at the Bislett Stadium on June 11-12 might be hard to put in words.  That’s because for the track star who just turned 24 two days back, nothing could have been a better gift than meeting her idol, Usain Bolt, for the very first time. And let’s just say, the meeting inspired her enough to pull off something great in the future!

Here’s a little flashback. When Julien Alfred got to know that the world’s fastest man in history, Usain Bolt, had graced the Oslo Diamond League venue with his presence ahead of Thursday’s event, she seized the opportunity to meet him. Her heart was pounding! And then, she was starstruck! “It was so surreal! He’s been my idol since I was young and finally getting the chance to meet him in Oslo is so surreal to me. I’m still in awe.” But that’s not where it ended. When asked if she sees herself becoming like Bolt in the future, here’s what the Saint Lucian said.

Speaking to Wanda Diamond League after her 100m win, Julien Alfred was asked, “Do you feel that you also can be a role model like Usain has been for a lot of children as well?” Interestingly, Alfred didn’t tremble with fear when asked to match up her idol’s footsteps. Instead, she showed that she’s ready for it if the torch gets passed, “I mean, as long as I do what I have to do, then I’m hoping that I can be.” 

After all, Julien Alfred was among those kids herself who were inspired by Usain Bolt’s raw speed and the way he put Jamaican sprinting on the map. Thus, after meeting him on Wednesday, she had remarked, “He showed me that someone from the Caribbean could rule the world. That stuck with me.” And just like that, Alfred isn’t hesitant to take up the same role for the upcoming generation and inspire them.

And interestingly, Alfred is one of those athletes who would be well-suited to a role like this, because she is, after all, carving out her own legacy like Usain Bolt did. Last summer, she became Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medalist after winning her 100m gold in Paris. Just a few weeks later, she also became the first St. Lucian Diamond League champion in history. So just like Bolt did for Jamaica, Alfred’s putting her nation on the sprinting map too.

But when it comes to her roots in Jamaica, they go way deep, and so does her admiration for her childhood hero.

Julien Alfred is a Usain Bolt fan

Julien Alfred left home at 14 and headed straight to Jamaica to polish her sprinting skills. Since then, she admired Usain Bolt but couldn’t really stumble across a chance to meet him. This week, at the Oslo Diamond League, that happened, a day before she clocked a nail-biting performance.

“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 honor,” said the reigning 100m Olympic champ. And the next day, she went on to show us why exactly do they call her the 100m powerhouse.

The next day, in the 100m, Julien Alfred powered to a massive win in her 100m season debut. She clocked 10.89 seconds and straight away jumped to the #2 fastest 100m time on the world list so far. This ensured her win streak goes on this season as well as she gets to remind her opponents of her 100m presence. But as she has clearly stated, she’s not going to stop before she adds that World Champion status to her name. And this breakthrough is nothing but the first leg to that. What do you think? Let us know below!