How Usain Bolt contributed to Julien Alfred's victory in the women's 100m at the Paris Olympics
Julien Alfred has narrated how Usain Bolt inspired her to victory in the women's 100m final at the Paris Olympic Games.
Julien Alfred is walking in the footsteps of the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, as she looks to obliterate the women’s 100m world record.
The world record was set by the late Florence Griffith Joyner who clocked an astonishing 10.49 seconds to win the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
She explained that multiple Olympic champion Bolt contributed to her win at the Paris Olympic Games since she watched some of his videos before stepping on the track for the final. In an interview with the Times, Alfred noted that she wants to be one of the greatest ever.
She is slowly getting closer to achieving her dreams as she has been crowned Olympic champion. To achieve the feat, the St. Lucia sprinter had to beat a strong cast from the U.S. including the reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson who finished second and third.
“For me it was never the Olympics. I wanted to be the fastest woman in the world. I wanted to be unbeatable. It was almost child-like. I never saw being from a small place as a negative. I never thought it would make things impossible. I watched Usain Bolt be the fastest man and just knew what I wanted,” Alfred said.
“I wanted to help my family and I saw running as a way out. So I watched a few of his races before mine. I had to go back to my roots to see how he handled everything, from the pressure to the celebrations. He was an inspiration to me growing up and I wanted to be just like him,” she added.
After winning the Olympic 100m and claiming the 200m silver medal, Alfred noted that she felt a sense of being free.
She was unfazed by the presence of Richardson and noted that in such instances, she never feels the need to worry about the things happening around her. When she steps on the track, Alfred noted that she only focuses on herself.
“When I run fast I feel happy, like I’m on top of the world and nothing can stop me. Sometimes when you focus on racing, it can make you tense, but when you just focus on yourself you have that freedom. No worries. Unstoppable. That’s how I felt in Paris,” she revealed.
However, her journey to becoming an Olympic champion has been marred with challenges. Alfred admitted that she used to train on grass since there was no available track where she used to live.
“Every country has its own challenges. But Saint Lucia is a country full of life, very beautiful and rich in its own ways. I really hope I have put it on the map,” she added.
posted Tuesday August 20th
by Abigael Wafula