Julien Alfred – An Embodiment of Poise During Homecoming

Making history through achieving a personal goal and seeing the accomplishment conjure mass enchantment is an experience only a few will encounter in their lifetime. Since Julien Alfred stormed across the finish lines of the women’s 100m and 200m races at the 2024 Olympics, jubilation has not subsided in Saint Lucia. The magnitude of the achievement has enamored thousands, particularly as it is stacked on consistently steady, poised shoulders. Undoubtedly, Alfred’s calm confidence makes being a top athlete look effortless, despite her own declarations of the personal battles she has had to overcome to get to this point. When the 23-year-old emerged from flight AA2295 on September 24 at 1:40 pm, she brought her hands over her mouth, appearing overwhelmed as she took in the crowd gathered on the Hewanorra International Airport tarmac. Not long after, her now familiar smile became affixed, and her arms stretched into gratuitous waves. She was emotional as she embraced her mother, visibly summoning composure through suppressed tears. These images will recur in retellings of Saint Lucia’s history forever, particularly the star athlete’s benevolent exchanges with onlookers and embracing of the young athletes of the Survivors Club, of which she was once a member. The...