Julien Alfred Makes History with St. Lucia's First Olympic Medal in Paris 2024 Women's 100m Triumph

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Julien Alfred created history by becoming St Lucia's first-ever Olympic medalist, clinching the gold in the women's 100m amidst a downpour at Stade de France. Alfred, in a stunning display of speed and control, led the race from start to finish, setting a new national record of 10.72 seconds. Her performance not only secured her country's inaugural Olympic medal but also showcased her dominance in challenging weather conditions.

The American world champion, Sha'Carri Richardson, captured the silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds, while her compatriot, Melissa Jefferson, took bronze in 10.92 seconds. Close behind was Great Britain's Daryll Neita, who narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth at 10.96 seconds.

The final lineup included formidable competitors such as Mujinga Kambundji from Switzerland, Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith from Ivory Coast, Tia Clayton from Jamaica, and Twanisha Terry from the USA, making Alfred's victory even more significant.

As the race concluded, an emotional Alfred was seen shedding tears of joy, her achievement slowly sinking in. The moment was further sweetened as Richardson approached her for a congratulatory hug, acknowledging her remarkable achievement. Alfred then took a victory lap, her triumph celebrated by the cheers of a packed and enthusiastic stadium, marking a historic day for St Lucia at the Olympics.

Julien Alfred: “I am going to start crying. I have been trying to stay strong as much as possible. It means a lot to me, my coach, my country, which, I am sure, is celebrating. You don’t ever see me celebrate like that. I am just happy it happened in the biggest race of my career. I watched Usain Bolt’s races this morning. I watched how he executed. I grew up watching him. Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling. With no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform. I hope this gold medal will help Santa Lucia build a new stadium, to help sport grow”.

Women's 100m Final Results Wind -0.1

Women’s 100 metres semifinal: 

World indoor champion Julien Alfred set the fastest time in the 100 metres semifinal with 10.84 beating world champion Sha’Carri Richardson (10.89) and Gina Bass Bittaye (11.10). 

Melissa Jefferson won the first 100 metres semifinal in 10.99 ahead of Marie Josée Ta Lou (11.01) and Mujinga Kambundji (11.05). 

Tia Clayton claimed the win in the third heat with 10.89 holding off Daryl Neita (10.97) and Twanisha Terry (11.07). 

Men’s shot put final: 

Ryan Crouser has become the first shot putter ever, man or woman, to win three Olympic gold medal. Crouser clinched the gold medal with 22.90m. Crouser took the early lead with 22.64m in the first round and improved to 22.69m in the second round and a seasonal best of 22.90m in the third round. 

His compatriot Joe Kovacs, who leads the world seasonal list with 23.13m, claimed his third Olympic silver medal with a throw of 22.15m in the sixth round despite torrential rain beating Rajindra Campbell on countback. Campbell became the first Jamaican athlete, man or woman, to win a medal of any kind in the shot put. Payton Otterdahl placed fourth with 22.03m. Italian record holder Leonardo Fabbri had to settle with fifth place with 21.70m and lost his unbeaten streak of 12 consecutive wins. 

Ryan Crouser: “It definitely means the most out of all of them. Kind of how Tokyo went, fresh off a world record, It was mine to lose. Tonight I am number three coming in on the performance list, so it let me play a little more fast and loose”. 

Men’s decathlon: 

Markus Rooth claimed the Olympic gold medal in a thrilling decathlon smashing his national record with 8796 points. Leo Neugebauer from Germany won the silver medal with 8748 points. Lindon Victor from Grenada clinched the bronze medal with 8711 points. All three medallists exceeded the 8700 points barrier for the second time. 

Rooth was ranked in fifth place with 4459 points, his best-ever day-one score.

Damian Warner won his second event of the Olympic competition after his win in the 100 metres on Friday. Warner got off to a flying start by clocking 13.62 in the 110 metres hurdles to move into the lead in the overall standing with 5585 points, 14 ahead of Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens Delerme, who clocked 14.09 to maintain his second position with 5571 points. Rooth ran 14.25 to move up one place to sixth. 

Ken Mullings from Bahamas finished second in 13.70 ahead of Makenson Gletty (13.96). European silver medallist Sander Skotheim won the second heat in 14.15. Overnight leader Leo Neugebauer clocked 14.51 in one of his weakest disciplines to slip to third place. 

Lindon Victor from Grenada set an Olympic decathlon best of 53.91m in the discus throw to move to within one place of a medal after seven events. Neugebauer, who holds the decathlon world lead in the discus with 57.70m, placed second with 53.30m to move into the lead again with 6500 points, 72 ahead of Warner. Skotheim ranked third with 6326 ahead of Victor (6311). Rooth set his best ever throw in a decathlon with 49.80m to remain in sixth place. 

Skotheim failed his three attempts at 4.50m in the pole vault. A few minutes later Warner failed to get over his opening height of 4.60 in a dramatic pole vault competition. Markus Rooth from Norway improved his PB by 20 cm to 5.30m. Oiglane matched Rooth’s result. 

Neugebauer vaulted 5.00m to hold on his lead in the overall standing with 7410 points.  The German athlete had a lead of 139 points with two events to go. 

Nicklas Kaul set the Olympic all-time best in the javelin throw with 77.78m. Oiglane and José Fernando Ferreira Santana also threw over the 70 metres barrier with 71.89m and 70.58m. Rooth set a PB of 66.87m to move from second to first with 8113 points, 16 ahead of Neugebauer. Victor ranked third with 8053 points. 

Rooth ran the 1500 metres to maintain his lead over Neugebauer, who clocked 4:44.67 to win the silver medal with 8748 points. Victor crossed the finish-line in in 4:43.53 to clinch the bronze medal with 8711 points. 

Roosen clocked 4:18.55 to place fourth with a Dutch record of 8607 points. Oiglane  finished fifth improving his PB to 8572, just three points ahead of European champion Johannes Erm.  

Kaul ran the fastest time in the 1500 metres with 4:15.00 to finish eighth with 8445 points. 

Women’s triple jump: 

Thea Lafond earned Dominica’s first-ever Olympic medal by claiming the women’s triple jump final. Lafond set a national record of 15.02m to claim the title. Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts won the silver medal with 14.87m ahead of Jasmine Moore (14.67m). Lafond completed a dream year in which she won the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow 2024. 

Thea Lafond: “It is absolutely beyond my wildest dreams. We always said it takes one jump. Second jump at the World Indoor Championships was the big one. Second jump at the Olympic Games was the big one. That’s what it took. The rain was in my favour. It came down as soon as I was done with the second jump. Thank you God for working with me”. 

Mixed 4x400 relay: 

Femke Bol moved from fourth to first with a 47.93 split on the anchor leg to win bringing the baton home for the Netherlands in a European record of 3:07.43. The Dutch team was formed by Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein and Femke Bol. 

The US team formed by Vernon Norwood, Shamier Litle, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylin Brown, who had set a world record of 3:07.41 in the heats,  had to settle with silver medal with 3:07.74. Great Britain (Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydon Wilson and Amber Anning) won the bronze medal with a national record of 3:08.01. 

Bol bounced back from the disappointment at the World Championships in Budapest, where she fell in the five metres as the US team won the 4x400 mixed relay. 

Femke Bol: “I channeled my anger from Budapest. I saw my teammates cheering for me. We just wanted to win a medal this time. We got gold. It’s absolutely crazy for a small country like us”. 

Men’s 100 metres heats: 

Jamaican Trials champion Kishane Thompson slowed down in the final metres but he won the first heat in 10.00 ahead of Benjamin Azamati (10.08). 

Ferdinand Omanyala from Kenya won the second heat in 10.08 edging European silver medallist Chituru Ali (10.12). 

Louie Hinchliffe from Great Britain claimed the win in the third heat in 9.98 edging reigning 100m and 200m world champion Noah Lyles (10.04). Hinchliffe, who is coached by sprint and long jump legend Carl Lewis, won the NCAA title in 2024. 

Louie Hinchliffe: “It’s amazing. That environment brings the best out of all of us. You have to make the most of it, use it to your advantage. The pressure, the environment will bring more out me, trying to get to the Olympic Final. It’s a good feeling. I wasn’t really thinking too much about him, he wasn’t really near me”. 

Noah Lyles: “I felt like my first 10 metres were pretty good, but I did not put enough effort on my acceleration. The moment is pretty big. I am excited”. 

World finalist Oblique Seville from Jamaica dipped under the 10 seconds barrier with 9.99 edging Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (10.02). 

Kayinsola Ajayi from Nigeria won the fifth heat in 10.02 edging reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs (10.05). 

Two-time Olympic finalist Akani Simbine from South Africa took the win in the sixth heat in 10.03 beating Ackeem Blake (10.06). 

Kenneth Bednarek claimed a narrow win in the seventh heat in 9.97 edging Emmanuel Eseme (9.98). 

Kenneth Bednarek: “This year I am changing the narrative. I have been an underdog for a couple of years, but I am trying to be the top dog”. 

Olympic silver medallist Fred Kerley won a high-quality eighth heat in 9.97 beating Letsile Tebogo (10.01) and Zharnel Hughes (10.03). 

Men’s pole vault qualifying round: 

Armand Mondo Duplantis cleared 5.60m and 5.75m in his first attempt to top the qualifying round of the men’s pole vault. 

Armand Duplantis: “Compared to Tokyo, it’s just night and day. It’s super cool. I can’t even imagine how amazing the final is going to be”. 

Emmanouil Karalis from Greece, Sondre Guttormsen from Norway, and Ersu Sasma  qualified for the final with a clean sheet at 5.75m. 

 Ernest John Obiena failed two attempts at the opening height of 5.60m, but he recovered with first-time clearances of 5.70m and 5.75m. 

Repechage round women’s 800 metres: 

The first in each repechage round and the next two fastest advanced to the semifinals. Abbey Caldwell won the first heat of the repechage round in the women’s 800 metres in 2:00.07 ahead of Eloisa Coiro (1:59.96). Anais Bourgoin from France claimed the win in the second heat in 1:59.52. Rose Mary Almanza from Cuba and Majtie Kolberg from Germany won the third and fourth heats clocking 2:01.54 and 1:59.08 respectively.  

Vivian Chebet Kiprotich and Valentina Rosamilia from Switzerland advanced to  the semifinal as the next two fastest athletes with 1:59.31 and 1:59.65. 

Anais Bourgoin: “My feet hurt a bit but when I heard the stadium, I let the pain go and I had to keep going. You have a lot of emotions when scream your name”.  

Repechage round men’s 1500 metres: 

Cathal Doyle from Ireland won the first 1500m repechage heat in 3:34.92 ahead of Azzedine Habz from France (3:35.10) and Ossama Meslek from Italy (3:35.32). Federico Riva won the second heat in a PB of 3:32.84 coming close to Pietro Arese’s national record. Charles Philibert Thiboutot finished second in 3:33.53 holding off George Mills by 0.03.