“Easy is not an option. Days off? Never. Quit? Be fearless. Talent you have naturally; skill is only developed by hours and hours of work.” These words by Usain Bolt sum up exactly what it means to be a world-class athlete. Success is not a road strewn with rose petals. It will make you experience uncomfortable situations before you win. Julien Alfred knows this firsthand. Alfred is a 2024 Olympic 100m champion, winning the first-ever Olympic medal for Saint Lucia. Apart from that, she has many other echo arts and records, and added a new one at the Stockholm Diamond League. But she did all of this by listening to her coach’s advice, even if it was not easy every time.
Anderson Emerole decided to dissect her records for this season and how she’s catapulting to the pinnacle. Julien Alfred ran 10.75 seconds to win the Stockholm Diamond League 100m. This adds another feather to her cap and an undefeated 2025 season, where she aspires to be the chosen one for the World Championship Gold medal, and also be unstoppable when it comes to rising to the top of the podium.
Emerole doubled down on her records and how she planned out her events. He started saying, “I feel like Julian Alfred is finally starting to really separate herself from the other women and really display that consistency that brought her to an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters, first of,f 10.75 seconds.” Then the veteran analyst went on to describe that it is not just the second fastest time clock in the world this year. This is also the quickest time of her entire career, just behind 10.72, which she had run last year to win the gold medal at the Olympics.
Explaining her other records, he said, “It’s also the third time that she’s ever broken the 10.8 second barrier, having gone 10.72 now 10.75, and then of course she also ran 10.78 seconds last year down in Jamaica. The level of consistency that she’s displaying in 2025 across all events is really building up to something special.” He described how she is still undefeated in both 100, 200, 300, and 400m in both indoor and outdoor. She might not be racing against the best and top tire sprinters of the world, but this speaks volumes about her performance.
Emerole further complimented her for taking risks and listening to her coach. He said, “Julian Alfred is putting herself in a little bit of discomfort but trusting her coach, uh, Coach Flo down in Texas, to you know believe that she is going to be successful and it’s going to help out and pay off later on. Which we’re seeing in the 200s with the 21.88 that she’s run, which we’re seeing in these hundreds with the 10.75 if I’m putting Julian Alfred up against any other woman in the world right now I’m picking Julian Alfred nine times out of 10 because of everything that she’s doing.”
But is this success as easy as it looks? Alfred might be sprinting to the top, but there was a time when she was shadowed by self-doubt. This is when her coach came to her rescue.
Julien Alfred’s coach becomes her saviour…
The Saint Lucian sprinting sensation shared about her preparation for the Stockholm Diamond League and her mentality while preparing for it. The two-time Olympic medalist was grateful to her coach Edrick Floreal for supporting her throughout the highs and lows of the prep.
Alfred clinched the win in the 100m at the Oslo Diamond League at 10.89 seconds. In her 100m at the Stockholm Diamond League, she once again seized the first position with 10.75 seconds, setting a meeting record. She also came first in the 300m race event at the Miramar Invitational, defeating Jamaican icon Shericka Jackson.
Despite starting well this season, there was a cloud of doubt that engulfed her. This is the time when her coach was her number one motivator. She mentioned, as per the Stockholm Diamond League’s official site:site: “After Oslo, I had to have a long chat with my coach, and he went through everything with me for today’s race. He reassured me that I am in great shape, because I was doubting myself. But I am happy today with how the race went. The turnaround was short, but it is nothing new to me; I have done it before. I shall be heading back to Austin for training now before Pre.”
The sprint realm is packed with top-notch athletes from Alfred to Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Sha’Carri Richardson. With the championships looming in September, this season is going to be a blockbuster one for sure.
The post Julien Alfred’s Uncomfortable Season Choices Earn High Praise From Track & Field appeared first on EssentiallySports.
