Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia made history by winning the country's first-ever Olympic medal, taking gold in the women's 100m race with a time of 10.72 seconds at the Paris Olympics. She defeated American favorite Sha'Carri Richardson, who earned a silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds, and Melissa Jefferson, who took bronze at 10.92 seconds. The race was held under challenging rainy conditions at the Stade de France. Richardson, who was making her Olympic debut after missing the 2021 Tokyo Games due to a suspension, had been the reigning world champion and was expected to win. Despite the setback, Richardson's silver is seen as a triumphant return to the sport. The event was also marked by the absence of Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who was unable to compete due to security issues.