On Friday, September 27, St. Lucia honored Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred with several prestigious awards and accolades. This day was officially designated as ‘Julien Alfred Day’ to celebrate her unprecedented achievements. The government and the people of St. Lucia came together to pay tribute to the 22-year-old sprint sensation for bringing immense pride to the nation on the global stage.
During a celebratory event, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s government announced significant honors for Alfred. One of the most notable honor was the renaming of the Millennium Highway to the Julien Alfred Highway. Additionally, a monument will be constructed in her honor at the new Cul de Sac Roundabout, ensuring that her legacy will be a lasting part of St. Lucia’s infrastructure.
Alfred will also receive a government gift of EC$1 million and a plot of land of her choice measuring 10,720 square feet. Furthermore, plans for a Julien Alfred commemorative stamp and a commemorative exercise book featuring photos of the Olympic champion were revealed by the prime minister, cementing her place in the nation’s history.
These grand gestures came after a whirlwind year for Alfred, who became the first St. Lucian to win a medal at the Olympic Games. She captured gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, further solidifying her status as a national hero. Earlier in the year, she won the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and she recently capped her outstanding season by winning the 100m Diamond League title in Brussels.