On June 15, 2025, during the BAUHAUS-galan Diamond League meet in Stockholm, Olympic champion Julien Alfred delivered a powerful message to the sprinting world. Clocking a meeting-record 10.75 seconds, the Saint Lucian star emerged victorious over a world-class field, including Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith. Afterwards, Alfred admitted that in the lead-up, she’d battled a mental barrier during training.
“I had a mental block in practice,” Alfred confessed to reporters. Rather than merely display raw confidence, she spoke with candor about how the mental strain of competition almost lingered off-track. But overcoming that hurdle made the win all the more meaningful.
At 23, Alfred has already rewritten history. In Paris at the 2024 Olympics, she became Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medalist — and champion — in the women’s 100 m, setting a national record of 10.72 s . That day wasn’t just a personal triumph; it marked a coming-of-age moment for her nation and for Alfred herself. But as she revealed later, that career-defining breakthrough nearly derailed her entire season.
Earlier in 2024, after achieving major indoor success, Alfred admitted to Citius Mag that Olympic favourite status brought pressure she wasn’t ready for . An Athletics Weekly interview further revealed she’d stepped off the track entirely at one point, admitting seriousness: “I wasn’t myself… there was this heavy weight on my shoulders” . She openly spoke of a breakdown, of doubt, of even asking her coach and agent to cancel her season–until, after tearful conversation, she chose to focus on her mental health and re-centre . The winning mindset was restored, and Alfred returned to form just in time for Paris.
Yet Stockholm marked her true return to the spotlight on the 2025 outdoor circuit. After a bang-on season start with a near-RNR 200 m run in Gainesville and a strong 300 m in Miramar closed by a national record, Stockholm served as both test and statement . She’d chosen to forgo indoors to gain strength for the outdoor season .
In Stockholm, Alfred executed her trademark composed race. Loose, powerful out the blocks, and controlled throughout, she edged Asher-Smith to win and sent a clear message: she’s still the dominant force in women’s sprinting.
But even amid triumph, Alfred acknowledged something deeper. “That mental block pushed me into figuring out who Julien Alfred really is,” she reflected. “It forced me to focus on process, not on expectation — and that shift made all the difference.” Her mature insight echoes earlier comments: “I try to think of myself as just human… not put pressure on myself” .
Her Stockholm win also showcased improved self-awareness surrounding race-day mental strategy: tuning out pressure, embracing each lane, trusting the body’s preparation. It mirrors the growth she described after Brussels 2024, where she said losing in Zurich earlier helped her relax and “focus on my lane and avoid getting panicked” .
As Alfred eyes the upcoming World Championships, her Stockholm re-set offers a hopeful sign. She’s rediscovered the clarity of purpose that made her Olympic performance possible — and fortified it with deeper mental discipline. Running a meeting record here, sending a message to the international field, she’s also reminding herself why she became a champion in the first place.
In Stockholm’s cooler June evening, under the lights of a passionate crowd, Alfred’s record run was more than a time: it was a comeback. And in saying the words, “I had a mental block in practice,” she’s showing the world that even the greatest athletes wrestle with doubt — and that overcoming those shadows is often the first step toward greatness.
Her win wasn’t just physical. It was proof that mental resilience, once lost and rediscovered, becomes the keystone of a champion. And as Alfred strengthens her mind alongside her strides, the sprinting world is reminded that the toughest races often begin before the starter’s gun — in the mind.
In summary: Alfred’s Stockholm victory was more than a new meeting record — it was a statement of her regained mental strength. After facing breakdowns in early 2024, she restructured her approach, focusing on mindset as much as speed. Stockholm is the proof that a champion isn’t just born from talent, but from self-belief. And as she heads toward the Worlds, she’s ready — mentally and physically — to defend her throne.
