Alfred won the 100-meter sprint gold medal, the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, and etched her name in Saint Lucian history.
Her triumph over American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson has made her a national hero and cemented her place among the top female sprinters in the world.
The 23-year-old’s path to glory began in the semifinals, where she clocked an impressive 10.84 seconds, edging out Richardson who finished in 10.89 seconds.
In the final, Alfred delivered a career-defining performance, exploding out of the blocks and maintaining her lead to cross the finish line in a blistering 10.72 seconds (-0.1m/s), setting both a new personal best and a national record.
Alfred won more than just the 100 meters in the Olympics. She continued and won silver in the 200m, capping up Saint Lucia’s unprecedented performance at the international competition.
Alfred arrived back on Tuesday afternoon to find huge crowds of happy supporters waiting for her.
Video footage shared on social media showed streets lined with cheering crowds, waving flags, and jubilant celebrations as the Olympic champion made her way through the capital.
The scale and fervour of the welcome have drawn attention internationally, particularly from American track and field enthusiasts.
Social media users’ remarks revealed a mixture of envy and adoration, with one person observing, “One thing that hurts about being an American track athlete. Never will you be honored in this manner.”
“Just look at how her country is celebrating her!” exclaimed another spectator, emphasizing the striking difference in how tiny countries welcome Olympic competitors compared to larger ones where similar accomplishments may be more typical.
As the celebrations continue across the island, there are already calls for more lasting forms of recognition for Alfred. Proposals range from naming a stadium in her honor to establishing a national sports development program inspired by her success.
For now, Saint Lucia remains in a state of euphoria, basking in the glory of their new national icon.
