Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia reacts after winning the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred secured her country's first ever Olympic gold medal by winning the women's 100m final at the Paris Games on Saturday.
The 23-year-old crossed the finish line in 10.72 seconds, ahead of American Sha'Carri Richardson, who claimed silver in 10.87.
Melissa Jefferson, also of the United States, took bronze in 10.92.
"It sounds really good, it has a good ring to it," Alfred said when asked how it felt to be an Olympic champion.
The result continued the Caribbean region's dominance of this event, with Jamaica having won four consecutive women's 100m Olympic titles before Saturday.
Alfred revealed that she had found inspiration by watching videos of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt on YouTube earlier in the day.
"He won so many medals. I went back this morning and watched his races," she said. "I'm not going to lie, it was all Usain Bolt's races this morning."
Silver was a bittersweet result for Richardson, who missed out on a place in the U.S. squad for the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for a "chemical found in marijuana."
The 24-year-old was the bookmakers' favorite to win the final after storming to gold at last year's world championships with the fifth-fastest time in history.
Jamaican legend and two-time 100m Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce missed the final after unexpectedly withdrawing from her semifinal earlier on Saturday.
A reason for Fraser-Pryce's absence was not immediately provided, but videos on social media showed her and Jamaican team officials arguing with venue staff for apparently refusing to let their vehicle enter.
Fraser-Pryce could be heard saying: "They've changed the rules. We came through this gate before but now they're saying athletes who have left can't use this gate." ■
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia reacts after winning the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Julien Alfred (C) of Saint Lucia competes during the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia celebrates after winning the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia celebrates after winning the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia celebrates after winning the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Julien Alfred (C) of Saint Lucia, Sha'Carri Richardson (R) and Melissa Jefferson of the United States celebrate after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Julien Alfred (4th L) of Saint Lucia, Sha'Carri Richardson (3rd L) and Melissa Jefferson (4th R) of the United States compete during the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia reacts after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia reacts after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Julien Alfred (C) of Saint Lucia, Sha'Carri Richardson (L) and Melissa Jefferson of the United States compete during the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Julien Alfred (3rd L) of Saint Lucia competes during the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Melissa Jefferson of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Sha'Carri Richardson (L) and Melissa Jefferson of the United States celebrate after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Sha'carri Richardson of the United States reacts after the women's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Sha'Carri Richardson (3rd R) of the United States and Julien Alfred (4th R) of Saint Lucia compete with the empty lane of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica during the women's 100m semi-final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
