Julien Alfred reveals Usain Bolt's career advice after first meeting
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 14.06.25. | 17:14
Bolt, who was in Oslo for the first time since his retirement in 2017, presented Alfred with a bouquet after her win
Reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred capped off a whirlwind week with an emphatic victory at the Oslo Diamond League held on Thursday, 12 June in Norway.
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However, beyond the 100m victory, it is her encounter with Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt that made her evening truly special.
Alfred, who turned 24 just days before the meet, blazed through the women’s 100m final in 10.89 seconds, outclassing a world-class field that included Ivorian veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (11.00s) and Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (11.08s).
The Saint Lucian sprinter powered out of the blocks and controlled the race with ease, adding another statement win to her increasingly dominant 2025 season.
Speaking on meeting Bolt, Alfred noted that it was an experience that made Oslo unforgettable.
“It was so surreal. He’s been my idol since I was young, and finally getting the chance to meet him in Oslo is so surreal to me. I’m still in awe,” Alfred told Olympics.com.
Bolt, who was in Oslo for the first time since his retirement in 2017, presented Alfred with a bouquet after her win. Many athletics fans would interpret that gesture as ‘passing of the torch’ in many ways.
The Jamaican icon, whose world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m has stood untouched since 2009, also offered Alfred a piece of career advice she says will stick with her for life.
“I did ask him a question, ‘How do you move on from such a high?’ He said, ‘Don’t get distracted by so many things happening around you. So many opportunities come your way, but you have to stay focused,” she said.
Well, Alfred’s recent form suggests she is taking that advice to heart. She now owns the second-fastest 100m time of the year, behind only American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s blistering 10.73 seconds earlier in June.
Her 200m campaign has also been equally dominant, having clocked a world-leading 21.88 seconds in April.
“It was my first race of the season, so I was a little rusty. But I got the win under my belt, which is the main thing. And I got to meet Usain Bolt, for the first time, and then two days running I got to meet him again!” the visibly excited Alfred offered.
With the Tokyo World Championships on the horizon and her form peaking, Alfred is now eyeing the world title to cement her legacy.
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