Julien Alfred and Sha'Carri Richardson

In a stunning upset at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia won gold in the women's 100 meters with a time of 10.72 seconds, marking the country's first-ever Olympic medal. Alfred dominated the race, leaving reigning world champion Sha'Carri Richardson of the USA to settle for silver in 10.87 seconds, while American Melissa Jefferson took bronze in 10.92 seconds. Richardson, who was making her Olympic debut after missing the Tokyo Games due to a positive marijuana test, struggled out of the blocks and could not catch Alfred. The competition was further shaken by the unexpected withdrawal of five-time Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, eliminating a significant contender from the race. Alfred's victory was foreshadowed by her earlier semifinal win over Richardson, where she also finished ahead. This performance highlights Alfred's rise as a formidable athlete on the world stage.