Julien Alfred Gets Honest Over Target On Her Back Ahead of Diamond League Return Against Top Names

What happens when your biggest dream comes true, but now the whole world expects you to do it again? That’s the kind of pressure Julien Alfred is carrying as she heads into her Diamond League return. She’s not just running races anymore; she’s running with a target on her back. And she knows it. “There’s a target on my back now, but I’m ready for every challenge,” she said ahead of her 100m season opener in Oslo. The difference now? Everyone’s watching.

Because let’s not forget, Julien Alfred didn’t just do well at the 2024 Paris Olympics… she made history. First, she shocked the world by becoming the first-ever Saint Lucian sprinter to make it to an Olympic 100m final. And then? She went beyond anyone’s expectations, winning gold in the women’s 100m and grabbing silver in the 200m. That wasn’t just a win for her; it was a moment that lit up her entire island.

And now, Julien opened up in a post shared by Wanda Diamond League on X, revealing how much her life has changed since her breakout season: “Obviously being recognized more now, and just stepping into the limelight and knowing that there’s a lot more pressure on my back. There’s a target on my back now.” But this is the difference with Julien: she does not only want to win medals.

"I have a target on my back now"

Julien Alfred on how her life has changed after becoming St. Lucia's first @olympics medallist.#OsloDL#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/L7LW5OFOsX

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 11, 2025

She is running with a reason. She said, “There’s a target on my back now, but I’m ready for every challenge presented to me…. And I think what’s most important now is using my voice to promote my country and realizing that I have a talent that’s going to glorify God.” But for those who think Julien might not be able to handle all this, they are forgetting about 2024.

For Saint Lucia, with a population under 200,000, Paris 2024 felt like the world had finally seen them. And Julien? She ran for every little kid from a small place with big dreams. And she didn’t stop there. Since the Olympics, Julien Alfred has continued to ascend. In Brussels, she won the 100m final to become the first-ever Diamond League champion in Saint Lucia’s history.

This time, she’s in the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, lining up once more, but against a loaded field that features the Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, and Daryll Neita. The action gets underway at 2:06 p.m. Jamaica time (3:06 p.m. Eastern Caribbean), and believe us, this is not another meet. It is Julien’s opportunity to prove that she is still the one to beat.

And while the world might be her fan, she experienced a fan girl moment herself. Ahead of the Oslo Diamond League, Julien Alfred had the chance to meet someone very special to her since she was young. Sure, then she already possesses the talent, the shape, and the inspiration, but perhaps now, she’s got a bit of good fortune too. The question is only… who was it?

Julien Alfred’s Oslo week turns magical ahead of Diamond League clash

Julien Alfred is already having a fairytale week in Oslo, start gun not required. Right after her 24th birthday on June 10, the Olympic champion managed to celebrate another milestone in her career the very next day, i.e., meeting her childhood idol, Usain Bolt. Jamaican sprint legend was an unexpected visitor at the Bislett Stadium press conference on June 11.

And to Alfred, who spent three years in Jamaica idolizing Bolt and competing on the same tracks as him, it was a moment she had been waiting her whole life to experience. Julien looked overjoyed when she spotted Bolt and took the opportunity to introduce herself, an instant full-circle moment that had the stadium buzzing.

For an athlete who once told her she “always wanted to be Usain Bolt” and grew up cheering for him, this encounter was magical, even if it was brief. Citius Mag captured it perfectly: “My heart is pounding… What! My idol… “I’ll be right back,” she said before walking off to meet him. ” With that bucket-list moment checked off, Julien Alfred is now gearing up to defend her 100m Diamond League crown.

So yes, the world is cheering for Julien Alfred. While the global spotlight sits heavy on her shoulders, she’s as grounded as ever, still the girl from a tiny Caribbean island who chased a childhood dream and dared to dream bigger than anyone thought possible. But now? She’s got a little extra magic in her pocket. Having met her ultimate role model just before the Oslo Diamond League, Julien is now sprinting with good luck, motivation, and momentum firmly on her side.

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