St. Lucia is now second on online searches and a tourist destination, all thanks to Julien Alfred’s Paris 2024 Olympics 100m victory against Sha’Carri Richardson.
At the the Paris 2024 Games women’s 100m final with the limelight on world champion Sha’Carri Richardson to record another amazing victory, the world was stunned when a very much unknown Julien Alfred stormed to St. Lucia’s first Olympic gold medal in history.
Alfred first gave a glimpse of what to expect when she edged the American track star in the semifinals. However, track enthusiasts didn’t read much meaning to it considering the unfortunate circumstance Richardson faced a few hours before, which could have affected her proper warm-up and rituals before the race.
With all eyes on Richardson as the world’s fastest woman this year, Alfred had other ideas as she blazed to her country’s first Olympic gold in a new lifetime best of 10.72s, with the US speedster settling for the silver medal ahead of her country mate Melissa Jefferson for bronze.
As Alfred’s name was making headlines globally, the next question accompanying it was “Where is Saint Lucia?” – after the 23-year-old comfortably bagged the 100m Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics.
Now, millions worldwide have come to know the name, Saint Lucia, thanks to Alfred and, of course, online search engines like Google.
According to the SLTA website, the site has seen an increase in hits since the Paris Olympics. It now boldly proclaims, “Congratulations to the fastest woman in the world, Olympic Champion Julien Alfred. SLTA Celebrates Julien Alfred and her 2024 Gold & Silver Olympic Wins. Visitors are invited to Explore Saint Lucia Like an Olympian.”
Visitors have been invited to explore some of the formal facilities where Alfred has trod, such as the Soufriere mini-stadium with a view of the pitons. They are also lured to some of the athlete’s natural treks, such as the beaches, rain forests, and soothing mud baths at Sulphur Springs, among others.
Noteworthy is that Alfred added the Olympic silver medal in the 200m final, finishing behind USA’s Gabby Thomas.
