The Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia sent four athletes to the 2024 Olympic Games. The island, which first appeared in the tournament in Atlanta in 1996, had never won a medal in any sport – but one Longhorn legend changed this.

Julien Alfred started her career at Texas in 2018, and in her five years in the program, she won multiple Big 12 indoor and outdoor championships and an NCAA indoor championship as a graduate student. Alfred’s graduate season was regarded as one of the best in Texas and NCAA history. She completed the short sprints double-double at the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, becoming the first Big 12 woman to accomplish that. She also led the Longhorns to their fifth outdoor track title, the first since 2004.

Since getting to Paris, Alfred has only been at the top spot. 

In the qualifying heats for the women’s 100-meter, the former Longhorn led New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs and Italy’s Zaynab Dosso with a time of 10.95 to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, Alfred was set to face her biggest challenge in American star Sha’Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Fraser-Pryce did not start the race, so Richardson was the name to beat.

Just 0.05 seconds separated Alfred and Richardson. Alfred finished with a time of 10.84 and Richardson finished with a time of 10.89. Alfred was one race away from making history. 

In a final full of sprint stars, the Saint Lucian star might not have been in people’s minds like the American trio of Richardson, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, but in 10.72 seconds, her best of the tournament, Alfred crossed the finish line to give Saint Lucia its first-ever Olympic medal. She also became the first Texas track and field star to win Olympic gold in the 100-meter dash.

The 2023 Bowerman Award winner, the highest honor of college track and field, thanked Texas head coach Edrick Floréal in a February interview, naming Texas an important instrument for her road to making Saint Lucian history.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Coach Floréal and the support of my teammates,” Alfred said to Caribbean National Weekly. “They have been instrumental in my development as an athlete. … With hard work, dedication and the support of my team, I believe anything is possible. I am determined to bring home a medal for Saint Lucia and make my country proud.”

Floréal knew she was meant for success at the highest level.

“As Julien’s coach, I have no doubt that she will achieve greatness,” Floréal said to CNW. “Her talent, determination and unwavering commitment to excellence set her apart. Saint Lucia has a true champion in Julien Alfred.”