Julien Alfred’s historic sprint gold overshadowed by Fraser-Pryce debacle in Paris

Julien Alfred of St Lucia celebrates winning the women's 100m gold medal. US athletes Sha'Carri Richardson (right) and Melissa Jefferson (left) took silver and bronze. (Photo: Kevin Voigt/GettyImages)

By Yanga Sibembe

4 Aug 2024

Julien Alfred beat pre-race favourite Sha’Carri Richardson to gold in the women’s 100m sprint at the Olympics. However, the absence of legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce dominated the discourse.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, one of the best sprinters of all time, was denied a fairytale farewell at the Olympic Games after being forced to pull out of the women’s 100m sprint race at the semifinal stage on Saturday.

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred went on to win the race, holding off pre-tournament race favourite Sha’Carri Richardson of the US to win her country’s first Olympic medal.

While the country has been competing at the Games since 1996, a podium placing had remained elusive for the Caribbean nation. Until Alfred stepped in to rewrite history.

The 23-year-old finished the race in 10.72 seconds to beat Richardson and her fellow American, Melissa Jefferson, to the prized gold medal. Alfred’s victory means the US will have to wait another four years to claim gold in the event.

Gail Devers won it back-to-back in 1992 and 1996 for the US. Since then, it’s been a drought for the Americans. Marion Jones was victorious at Sydney 2000, but she was retrospectively stripped of the title for doping.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica competes in a women’s 4x100m relay heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on 25 August 2023. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Szilard Koszticsak)

Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia wins the 100m final at Stade de France in Paris on 3 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Christian Bruna)

Alfred said she hopes her gold medal-winning sprint will inspire some change in her country. She also dedicated it to her father, who she said died in 2013.

“Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling, with no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place,” Alfred said after beating reigning world champion Richardson.

“We barely have the right facilities. The stadium is not fixed. I hope this gold medal will help Saint Lucia build a new stadium, to help the sport grow,” the 23-year-old added.

Frustrated Fraser-Pryce

Alfred’s famous victory took a back seat though, as the conversation centred on the absence of veteran Olympian Fraser-Pryce. The 37-year-old, competing in her last Games after debuting at Beijing 2008, was forced to pull out after suffering an undisclosed injury before her semifinal race.

The injury denied Fraser-Pryce an opportunity to podium for the fifth time in her fifth and final Olympic appearance. The Jamaican won the 2008 and 2012 100m Olympic events. She secured bronze in Rio and was second behind Elaine Thompson-Herah at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

Prior to Fraser-Pryce’s absence from her semifinal lane being confirmed as being injury induced, social media was ablaze with speculation that the 37-year-old had abandoned the race after being denied entry to the warm-up area at Stade de France.

Footage widely shared on social media showed that Fraser-Pryce had been denied entry earlier in the day, with security saying the gate she was at was not an entrance.

Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia celebrates winning the Olympic 100m final at the Stade de France in Paris on 3 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Franck Robichon)

Sha`Carri Richardson of the US reacts after winning the 200m. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Martin Divisek)

Sha`Carri Richardson on her way to win the 200m. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Martin Divisek)

However, in the video Fraser-Pryce can be heard saying that the previous day she had used the same gate without any problems. She says “it’s crazy” that she’s now being denied entry and being told to use another entrance. US star Richardson was also captured in the viral footage.

Eventually, the pair found their way in through another entrance. But it was only Richardson who lined up for her semifinal. Without explanation, Fraser-Pryce was absent from hers, fuelling the social media furore.

Read more: Olympic Games Paris 2024

Jamaica’s chef de mission, Ian Kelly, later clarified that the runner’s absence was due to an injury and not the events earlier in the day where she could not enter the venue.

“Fraser-Pryce was allowed to enter the warm-up track but from another gate from which she was directed to enter from,” Kelly told Reuters.

Julien Alfred of St Lucia celebrates winning the women's 100m gold medal. US athletes Sha'Carri Richardson (right) and Melissa Jefferson took silver and bronze. (Photo: Kevin Voigt / GettyImages)

“There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium. Unfortunately, she was not able to compete due to an injury sustained during her final warm-up.”

Despite this explanation there was still anger from netizens, with some saying Fraser-Pryce may have been disturbed by the entrance ordeal, leading to her injuring herself. The decorated sprinter posted a vague statement on her social media accounts.

“It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment,” Fraser-Pryce wrote. I know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. I am truly blessed to have had the steadfast support of my fans since my Olympic debut in 2008.”

Depending on the nature of her injury, Fraser-Pryce may still be granted an opportunity to end her stellar career with a medal.

She will be in a race against time to compete in the 100m women’s relay, the final of which is scheduled for 9 August. DM

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