“I’m thinking of God [and] my dad, who didn’t get to see me. He passed away in 2013. Dad, this is for you,” said Julien Alfred after clinching 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, dedicating her triumph to her late father. Yet, despite the glory, the world’s fastest woman remains grounded. After a dazzling 2025 season, she entered the World Athletics Championships as the favorite, until injury came knocking. With tears ending her season, Alfred’s resilience still shines through, leaving the next generation with a message they’ll never forget.

Ending her season in tears, Julien Alfred made the tough decision to prioritize her health ahead of future races. While her competitive year may have concluded, her role as a mentor is only beginning. Recently invited by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority to inspire the next generation, Alfred shared heartfelt words during her conversation with Athletics Weekly. When asked what advice she’d offer young athletes, the Olympic 100m gold medalist smiled and said they should always have fun and never give up.

“I could think of the times when I wanted to give up and remembered the note my mom left for me. Seeing how many parents are out here supporting my practice is just so amazing, because our parents’ support really does mean a lot to us. I had my dad, who passed away in 2013, and also my mom as well. So just seeing the number of parents who are out here supporting their children is such an amazing feeling. Seeing how they look up to me and how excited they are definitely motivates me to go back to the track,” said Alfred.

Losing her father at just 12, Julien Alfred thought she should let go of her career. “When my dad died, I felt like giving up,” but Fate wanted something different from her. She never shied away from performing at the highest level. After clinching 100m gold and 200m silver at the Paris Olympics, she dedicated her triumph to her late father and coach. In 2025, she kicked off her season in spectacular fashion, blazing to an astonishing 21.88s (0.2m/s) at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, sending a crystal-clear message: she’s the woman to beat.

Riding that momentum, Alfred dominated the London Diamond League, Prefontaine Classic, and Zürich Diamond League Final, consistently dipping below 11 seconds and proving her world-class consistency. With her sights firmly set on World Championship gold, fate took an unfortunate turn in Tokyo, where a Grade 1 hamstring strain forced her to withdraw from the 200m, halting what had been a near-perfect season.

Setbacks are inevitable, even when life seems to be going perfectly, and Julien knows this all too well. When Athletics Weekly asked her what final advice she would give to young athletes, she encouraged them to remember, “have fun in the younger years, enjoy the sport,” no matter how tough the situation or how intense the pressure. Julien Alfred knows that these medals are merely accolades of excellence, but if someone isn’t enjoying what they’re doing, things can quickly go downhill. That’s why she believes it’s better to stay humble.

“I don’t want to get swell-headed,” said Julien Alfred about her Olympic victory

While some athletes let victory inflate their egos and lose focus, Julien Alfred is a striking exception. Even a year after seizing gold and silver at her Olympic debut in Paris 2024, she remains remarkably grounded. As the 100m Olympic champion, she refuses to let fame define her. Warm, approachable, and effortlessly humble, she continues to carry the weight of being the world’s fastest woman with grace.

“I’ve honestly placed the Olympics behind me because I do want to achieve more,” the 24-year-old tells Olympics.com in a sit-down interview. “I don’t want to get swell-headed and think that I’ve made it because there’s more that I want to achieve in life. I’m just a normal person. To be honest, that’s how I move through life, especially because I’m just so hard on myself, I always want to do better.”

Julien Alfred’s remarkable success is matched only by her humility, proving that staying grounded can be a true catalyst for greatness. “I’m very powerful, that’s really my superpower when it comes to sprinting…I’m really strong, especially in the weight room.” Setting her sights on the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics, Alfred keeps herself healthy both physically and mentally.