Source: Steve Christo – Corbis / Getty
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia delivered a breathtaking performance to claim the gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clocking in at 10.72 seconds. Alfred’s victory is especially monumental as it marks the first Olympic medal in the history of the Caribbean nation. Sha’Carri Richardson, who was widely tipped to take home the gold following her stellar performance at the 2023 Track and Field World Championships and the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, secured the silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds. Fellow American and training partner Melissa Jefferson claimed the bronze.
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Alfred, a standout track star for the University of Texas and a three-time NCAA Division I champion has now added Olympic gold to her impressive resume. She made headlines by becoming the first woman in NCAA history to break the seven-second barrier in the 60 meters, and her Olympic triumph cements her status as a world-class athlete.
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Richardson’s journey to the Silver medal was a difficult one. Before the 2021 Tokyo Games, The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) subsequently announced a one-month suspension for Richardson, disqualifying her Olympic Trials performance and making her ineligible to compete in the 100 meters at the Tokyo Olympics. The suspension was a massive blow to Richardson, Team USA, and her fans, who had high hopes for her performance on the world stage. Now, she caps off her triumphant run with the silver.
The field was notably missing some of Richardson’s fiercest competitors from Jamaica. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew before the semifinals, despite running the second-fastest time in the prelims. Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics 100m gold medalist, was sidelined by injuries. Shericka Jackson opted to focus on the 200 meters rather than compete in the 100.
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