Julien Alfred aims to add world crown to historic Olympic gold
Of all the challengers to Richardson at the Eugene Diamond League and the remainder of events this season, the one with the greatest recent pedigree is undoubtedly Saint Lucia’s Olympic 100m gold medallist Julien Alfred.
With Richardson the favourite for gold at Paris 2024, Alfred stepped up in the pouring rain and delivered the performance of her lifetime in the Olympic final.
It wasn’t so much a case of claiming gold but tearing it from the hands of every other competitor in the race.
With Alfred recording a personal best time of 10.72, Richardson’s silver-medal-winning time of 10.87 represented a chasmic difference on the track.
While we have yet to see the Richardson/Alfred rivalry reignited this year, the Stade de France wasn’t the last time the two would meet in 2024.
In that year’s Eugene Diamond League, Richardson would have her revenge, bursting through the finish line in 10.83 seconds ahead of Alfred, who came second in 10.93.
But Alfred wasn’t done yet. In September’s Diamond League Final in Brussels, the tables turned once again, as the Olympic champion blazed her way to the Diamond League crown, winning the race in 10.88 seconds.
Richardson, uncharacteristically, came home eighth.
While the American’s 2025 season has yet to take shape — her only outdoor 100m outing, in Tokyo, saw her finish fourth — Alfred has continued her dominance by beating all-comers this year.
A best time of 10.75 seconds sees her sit second on the 2025 list. And the first person on that list is also a contender to be Richardson’s greatest challenger this year.