Julien Alfred Arrives Home To Rapturous Welcome

On Tuesday, double Olympic medallist Julien Alfred stepped off an aircraft into bright sunshine and a warm, rapturous welcome at Hewanorra International Airport. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, other government members and Saint Lucia Olympic Committee personnel were among the official welcoming party. An emotional Julien told the official welcome ceremony in brief remarks that she was at a loss for words. “I don’t want to get emotional, but today I really want to give thanks,” she stated to spontaneous applause. She mentioned the people who had supported her, her village, her family, her mother, the Saint Lucia Government, her coach Edrick Floréal, who could not be present for Tuesday’s event, the University of Texas, and Cuthbert ‘Twatiné’ Modeste. Julien recalled that Modeste, whom she later warmly embraced after exiting the VIP lounge, took an interest in her at a very tender age. “Even when I gave up, he came back to look for me in Ciceron,” the Paris 2024 100m champion and 200m silver medallist stated. “So many people have guided me and helped me to get to this point and and I really just want to say thank you to all of you, even those I haven’t mentioned....