Olympics hero Julien Alfred has explained that she knew she had the gold medal “in the bag” coming into the 100m showdown with Sha’Carri Richardson at the Games in Paris.

The American was the expected frontrunner for the top prize in the race over the summer, having won gold in the event at the World Championships a year previously. However, Saint Lucia’s Alfred stunned the athletics world as she wrote her name into history with an impressive time of 10.72 seconds in the spectacle to triumph.

Her gold medal was the first earned by any athlete from the country as she established her legacy as a national hero with her stunning showing. Her achievement meant that rival Richardson had to settle for silver, with Melissa Jefferson taking the bronze on a captivating evening in the French capital.

Now, the 23-year-old has reflected on what was a life-changing experience in Paris as she revealed that she was confident that she could reign victorious coming into the race. Alfred had previously won silver in the event at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 but was not viewed as one of the favorites coming into the affair.

Speaking to SportsMax TV, she revealed the mindset she took into the race, saying: “I knew I had it in the bag as long as I just go out there execute and do what my coaching I have been working on for such a long time and do the same thing like in the final I knew I had it in the bag.”

The Saint Lucian icon also earned the silver medal in the 200m race at the Games with a time of 22.08 seconds, as she finished as runner-up to Gabrielle Thomas. Meanwhile, 100m rival Richardson eventually exacted her revenge as she earned gold in the Diamond League race in Zurich in September, as Alfred took silver that time.

Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news

Julien Alfred of St Lucia celebrates winning the 100m final at the Olympics alongside Sha'carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson

Julien Alfred of St Lucia celebrates winning the 100m final at the Olympics alongside Sha’carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson ( 

Image:

Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)

Still, there is no doubting the impact that the latter has had on her homeland with Saint Lucia even declaring September 27 as “Julien Alfred Day” in honor of her achievements in Paris. Reflecting on a whirlwind couple of months, the humble sprinter has confessed that she has still not processed what proved to be the summer of a lifetime.

Speaking to Athletics Weekly, she acknowledged: “I don’t think it has all sunk in yet. I’ve now got a chance to go back to my home and think about what Saint Lucia has done for me in my life. It’s really amazing they’re doing this.

“I think the emotions of the Olympics came in waves. When I crossed the line, it was the realization that I actually won,” the Olympian continued. “When I took off my spikes and went to grab my bag I was just so overwhelmed that I was the Olympic champion. There were peaks and troughs.”

Alfred added: “I don’t know how I’ll process all of it! Given all that I’ve achieved, especially somebody that has been through so much in their life, you think ‘do I even belong here?’ when the good happens. I just need some time to process the good that’s happening in my life right now!”