Paris Olympics 2024: Why Julien Alfred defeating Sha’Carri Richardson was no fluke

American sprinting star Sha’Carri Richardson entered the 2024 Paris Olympics as the clear favorite to win the gold medal in the 100 meters, but she was denied not by any of the Jamaican trio of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (withdrew from the semifinals due to injury), Elaine Thompson-Herah (injured and not in Paris), or Shericka Jackson (only racing in the 200 meters). Instead, it was another Caribbean athlete from the eastern island of Saint Lucia who made history for her country by becoming their first Olympic medalist in any sport.

Julien Alfred led virtually from start to finish on her way to an emphatic victory at the Stade de France, defeating Richardson by 0.15 seconds in the largest winning margin in an Olympics men’s or women’s 100m final since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt both won their respective gold medals by 0.2 seconds back in 2008.

The ease of Alfred’s win may be surprising given Richardson’s performances dating back to last year, but the win in itself is far from an inconceivable fluke result. She may not have the name recognition of Richardson or the Jamaican stars, but she has been a sprinting sensation for years, and she’s only getting better.

Julien Alfred was one of the great collegiate sprinters in NCAA history

Alfred was a phenomenal athlete at the University of Texas, winning The Bowerman award (track and field’s Heisman Trophy equivalent) and Big XII Women’s Athlete of the Year in 2023. In that tremendous senior season, she set collegiate records in the 60 meters (6.94 seconds in the high elevation of Albuquerque) and 200 meters (22.01 seconds) to win a pair of NCAA indoor titles.

Shifting to the outdoor season, she tripled up by winning the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay in one day for an incredible five NCAA titles in one year. Texas won the team national title for the first time since 2005, largely due to Alfred’s performances. Alfred also won the 100m and the 4x100m relay in 2022.

Alfred won the gold medal at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in the 60 meters

Earlier this year in Glasgow, Scotland, Alfred won Saint Lucia’s first World Athletics Indoor or Outdoor Championship medal when she bested Poland’s Eva Swoboda in 6.98 seconds. Being great in the 60 meters does not guarantee high-level success in the 100 (and vice-versa), but when you consider that Alfred has the range to run the 400 meters, her wicked acceleration combined with her endurance and power makes her a special talent.

For context, Sha’Carri Richardson’s personal best in the 60m is 7.20 seconds, and she’s not competed in the event since 2020. She typically excels in the back-half of the 100 meters, which makes her start so critical.

Alfred beat Sha’Carri Richardson in her pro debut

After wrapping up her time at Texas, Alfred entered the professional track circuit and made her pro debut in the 100 meters in Hungary. Facing off against Richardson, Twanisha Terry, and Paris bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson, Alfred dominated the field and won in 10.89 seconds, 0.08 faster than Richardson. It was the first loss of the season for Sha’Carri.

Richardson would win the 2023 world title in Hungary just one month later, with Alfred missing out on the medals and finishing in 5th. Their next meeting prior to the Olympics saw Richardson win against Alfred in the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon by 0.1 seconds, but Alfred now has the 3-2 edge in the series following her semifinal and Olympic final wins.

Sometimes, it really is how you start

Arguably the biggest area of vulnerability for Sha’Carri Richardson has been her start—particularly her reaction to the gun. At last year’s Worlds, Richardson had a scare in the semifinals after not finishing in an automatic qualifying spot following a slow start, but her time was good enough to reach the final anyway.

In the opening round of qualifying, Richardson’s reaction time was 0.2 seconds, the fourth-slowest of all 72 entrants, but she still won comfortably. Her semifinal reaction time of 0.191 seconds, the slowest in her heat and tied for second-slowest among all 26 semifinalists, and she lost to Alfred. In the final itself, Richardson’s reaction time dropped to 0.221 seconds, which is unrecoverable even for someone with her elite top-end speed.

Alfred didn’t have a great semifinal start (0.171 reaction time), but in the final she improved to 0.144, tied for fourth-fastest with Melissa Jefferson. The disparity in start quality gave Alfred an early lead that she was determined to not relinquish.

Alfred already had a quick turnaround on Sunday and raced the opening round of the 200 meters, a race she’s repeatedly said she dislikes, with the chance to pull off an Olympic double. The 23-year-old was always a formidable opponent for Richardson entering the competition and she showed why on Saturday night. Beyond putting Alfred and Saint Lucia on the sports world map, hopefully this result is the start of the next great women’s 100-meter rivalry between her and Richardson.