Paris 2024 Olympics: Fans in St Lucia burst into ecstasy as Julien Alfred wins his country’s first ever Olympic medal

Julien Alfred secured a surprise victory over American Sha’Carri Richardson in France on Saturday evening to reach the final.

Although they were some 4,000 miles away in the Caribbean, fans back home were overjoyed at what was Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal.

Fans filled a park in Castries, Saint Lucia, to watch Alfred run her race on a big screen. When she took home the win, celebrations erupted in the small island’s capital. Watch:

Alfred won the event in 10.72 seconds on Saturday, the eighth-fastest time in the women’s 100 meters in history. Her victory was also the second-fastest in an Olympic final since 2008. Richardson, who is competing in the Games for the first time this summer, finished second in 10.87 seconds. Fellow American Melissa Jefferson won bronze in the event.

Although Alfred won multiple national titles in Texas, her love of running dates back to her childhood, when she would run barefoot in school, trying to emulate Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

Now that she is an Olympic champion like Bolt, Alfred is already turning her attention to how she can help other children growing up in Saint Lucia.

Judging from the reactions she got on Saturday, they’ll be more excited to celebrate with her when she gets home.