Well, if you’re not watching Julien Alfred right now, you’re missing something special. This 24-year-old Saint Lucian sprinter is tearing up the track, and she’s got that fire that makes you lean forward in your seat. Alfred’s 2025 season is a masterclass in speed and grit. She’s not just running races; she’s rewriting what it means to be a sprinting superstar. With the World Championships in Tokyo looming (September 13-21), let’s dive into why Alfred’s got the track world buzzing. What’s making her the one to watch?

Alfred’s been a force in the 2025 Diamond League, owning the 100m with blistering times. She clocked a meeting record 10.75 seconds in Stockholm’s BAUHAUS-galan on June 15, easing up at the line to outpace Dina Asher-Smith. Just days before, she ran 10.89 in Oslo. Then, at the Monaco Diamond League on July 12, she stormed to a 10.79 into a -1.4 m/s headwind. That consistency? It’s unreal. But how does she stack up against the legends?

Track icons like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah have set the gold standard for sprinting, with Fraser-Pryce’s five world 100m titles and Thompson-Herah’s back-to-back Olympic golds. Yet, Bernard Williams sees Alfred in their league as he revealed on the Ready Set Go podcast, “She’s one of the most consistent 10.7, 10.8 I’ve seen since Shelly Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson. Like, she’s really strong. Even when she lost to Melissa, she was still running just as strong as if nobody was in front of her. That’s a dangerous person.” Her stoic, all-business vibe? It’s pure focus. But what’s driving that intensity?

Justin Gatlin, an Olympic champ, can’t get enough of her: “I love watching Julien Alfred race, bro. Like, she’s just so strong, commands the lead, and it’s like—just her face is so stoic, right?” He spotted a flicker of disappointment after her 10.7 in Monaco, hinting at her hunger to dominate after the Prefontaine setback. “When Worlds comes around, she’s not going to play around,” Gatlin predicts. Alfred’s chasing her first world title, and with no national trials to stress her, she’s locked in. Could Tokyo be her coronation? What about London?

Julien Alfred’s sprint for St. Lucia at the London Diamond League

Picture this: Julien Alfred, St. Lucia’s sprinting queen, powering down the track at the London Diamond League’s 200m this Saturday. From the ESPN fan view, this 24-year-old is pure electricity, carrying her nation’s hopes. After winning St. Lucia’s first global gold in the 60m at Glasgow’s World Indoors in March 2024, she’s now the 2024 Olympic 100m champ, dominating with nine wins in 10 races this season. But can she handle the spotlight?

Alfred’s not just a runner; she’s St. Lucia’s tourism ambassador, a role that brings pride and pressure. “There can be pressure sometimes,” she told reporters Friday. “However, just a few weeks ago I switched that mindset. I’m doing it for myself first. St. Lucia is a reflection of me.” That focus is her edge, but how does it feel to be a national icon?

Back home, Alfred’s a rockstar. “I’m recognized everywhere I go,” she said, smiling. Visiting St. Lucia just three times since Glasgow, she’s greeted like royalty. “Being back on island, that’s my home. Born and raised there. It’s always a pleasure being with my people.” With the 200m looming, she’s ready to fly. Will Alfred’s new mindset propel her to another victory?