Hardly anyone could have scripted a better birthday week than Julien Alfred did last weekend. The St. Lucian sprint star celebrated in style, embracing the full vibe of the moment. First came the magic of competing at the prestigious Oslo Diamond League—her season opener in the 100m dash. For Alfred, who had been gearing up post-Olympic year to stamp her authority on the circuit, this wasn’t yet just another race. And the timing couldn’t have been sweeter. As if the race itself weren’t enough, the atmosphere at Bislett Stadium delivered a surprise that tugged straight at the heartstrings: a chance encounter with her idol, the one and only Usain Bolt. The eight-time Olympic champion was in the house, and Alfred didn’t miss a beat. 

In the middle of her own media interactions, Julien broke away to rush toward the legend she had idolized since childhood. The moment was raw, emotional, and unforgettable. Later, she would recall that excitement with a bright smile, still reeling from the joy of standing next to greatness. Then came race day—June 12. Julien Alfred stepped onto the track and sprinted her way to a solid 10.89 seconds (+1.1 m/s) finish, securing a big win against a stacked field that included the ever-reliable Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Noah Lyles’ training partner Daryll Neita, and even her own training partner Dina Asher-Smith. To top it off, she received her winner’s prize from Usain Bolt himself, posing alongside him for the cameras—an iconic image in the making. Yet, for all the celebration, Alfred wasn’t fully satisfied.

Despite the victory, her assessment of the race was grounded in honesty. “I was a little rusty in Oslo,” Julien Alfred confessed during the pre-race press conference ahead of the Stockholm Diamond League on June 14. When asked if she had been nursing any niggles, she shook her head. The issue, she explained, lay in execution. “What I’m looking forward to tomorrow is just better execution.” Was it about any niggles? Alfred said no. Then? “After I got out of my dry phase, I didn’t know what I was doing after that, to be honest, but just really hoping to have a better race tomorrow and better execution.” 

It’s a telling statement from an athlete who holds herself to the highest standards. After all, even with the “rust,” her Oslo performance ranked second only to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s blistering world-leading 10.73 seconds (+1.4 m/s). But for Julien, the time on the clock wasn’t the only measure of success. Control, rhythm, and technical sharpness—those are the benchmarks she’s chasing. As the clock ticks down to her next showdown in Stockholm, the question lingers—did she find the answers she was looking for in those 48 hours? If the birthday week gave us a glimpse of her star power, the next race might just reveal the edge she’s been sharpening behind the scenes.

Julien Alfred trusts her coach to solve her issue 

After her 100m race in Oslo, Julien Alfred took a few moments to speak with Athletics Weekly from the stands—and her reflections were as revealing as they were grounded. With a composed demeanor and a smile that hinted at quiet confidence, Alfred shared, “As long as I worked on execution, to be honest, that’s all that matters, because we just started working on the 100.” It was a telling remark. For someone who had just bested a world-class field and clocked 10.89 seconds in her outdoor season debut, her focus wasn’t on the win—it was on how she got there.

“But I mean,” she added with a shrug, “I have no complaints right now. So, yeah, that’s all I can say.” Spoken like a true competitor—not content with the podium if the performance wasn’t perfect. But as the spotlight now shifts to Stockholm, fans and analysts alike are asking: Is she doing anything different to sharpen her run?

Julien’s response was refreshingly simple. “I think as long as I’m strong, finishing, that’s all that matters.” No overthinking. No dramatics. Just clarity and purpose. And when pressed about what exactly might spark that improvement—what tweak, what trick, what secret sauce might help her clean up the second half of her race—she didn’t pretend to have all the answers.

“I don’t know what makes the difference. I’m just following my coach,” Julien said with a laugh and a sparkle in her eye. That coach? U.S.-based sprint guru Edrick Floréal, known for transforming raw potential into refined excellence. Under his guidance, Julien Alfred is steadily crafting her transition from a NCAA phenom to global contender. So while she may not have mapped out the magic formula just yet, one thing is clear: Alfred trusts the process. With her power, poise, and a team built for greatness, it’s not a matter of if she finds that perfect race—it’s only a matter of when.