In her first-ever Olympics, aged 23, she won the coveted 100 metre title, upstaging the much-fancied American world champion Sha'Carri Richardson. It was St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, and it sparked joyous celebrations on the Caribbean island, with the government subsequently declaring September 27 as ‘Julien Alfred Day’. She also added a silver to her Paris medal collection in the 200m behind Gabby Thomas.
Earlier in the year she had won gold in the World Indoor 60m, to secure a maiden World Athletics Indoor Championship medal for her country, and also set a new national 200m record as she finished second at the London Diamond League meeting in July.
