At any major championship, a strong performance in the semi-finals usually makes an athlete’s confidence skyrocket heading into the round where the medals will be decided.
According to reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, this was exactly the case for her in Paris in August.
After getting through her heat comfortably in 10.95, Alfred, 23, was drawn in a brutal second semi-final that also included 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson and was supposed to have 10-time World and three-time Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Fraser-Pryce failed to turn up for the race meaning Alfred still had Richardson to contend with.
“When I saw the line-up, I was like man, I have to run! I really have to run tomorrow. I kept thinking about how I’m going to execute,” she said on a recent episode of Out D' Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel.
“I had to psych myself up mentally,” she added.
The execution couldn’t have gone more perfectly for the St. Lucian as she blasted out of the blocks, getting a big lead on Richardson before shutting down towards the line to win in 10.84.
She then repeated in the final, speeding to a personal best and national record 10.72 to win her country’s first ever Olympic medal.
Alfred says her semi-final performance gave her the confidence she needed to produce her best in the final.
“After that semi-final, I gained so much confidence,” she said.
Crossing that line and executing such a good race and even slowing down in the last five metres of the race, I knew I had it in the bag as long as I go out there and do it in the final,” Alfred added.
The World Indoor 60m champion said the performance in the semi-final helped her to be calmer in the final.
“I was as relaxed as possible. The way that semi-final turned out was the best thing that happened to me because I gained all the confidence,” she said.
“Just going back to the warm-up area, my coach kept telling me we’re not done yet, we have one more round,” she added.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
“I am very optimistic”- BAAA President Archer sees bright future for Bahamian athletics
President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), Drumeco Archer, sees a bright future ahead for Bahamas’ track and field program with stalwarts Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner on the backend of their respective remarkable careers.
The Bahamas finished the 2024 Paris Olympics with no medals. The last time that happened was at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Their best hope for a medal, Gardiner, who was the defending Olympic Champion, pulled up injured in his semi-final of the Men’s 400m while Miller-Uibo, Olympic Champion in 2016 and 2021, failed to advance from the heats in the Women’s equivalent.
World Indoor Champion and record holder in the 60m hurdles, Devynne Charlton, finished sixth in the final of the 100m hurdles, the same place she finished three years earlier in Tokyo.
Despite these lean results, Archer, speaking on the latest episode of Out D’ Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel, says he is optimistic about the future of the country’s track and field program.
“I am very optimistic about where we are in our program. Yes, I think that when you give a woman a rose, you just can’t stop and that is really the expectation of the world and, no doubt, our local community,” Archer said.
“With an illustrious 10-year span for both Shaunae (Miller-Uibo) and Steven Gardiner, obviously there’s an expectation but I think what we’ve done over the years is have the vision of trying to continue to produce new growth to the program and so I think we have a legion of new rising stars that will replace the likes of Shaunae and Steven,” Archer added.
In addition to her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo, 30, also won the World title in 2022 and took silver at both the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.
Gardiner, 29, also won gold at the World Championships in 2019.
Archer noted that he believes that these two stalwarts of Bahamian sprinting still have some more great performances in their future.
“Let me just say that this is really not the end for them. There’s a lot more in the gas tank. Let me preface by saying I don’t speak for them but I’m optimistic that you just don’t end your career like that so I’m expecting them to return to the big stage and deliver as the world expects them to,” he said.
JOA to honour Jamaica's Paris Olympians at inaugural "Olympic Salute" on November 16
For the first time in Jamaica's Olympic history, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will host a formal ceremony to honour the nation’s athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Dubbed “Olympic Salute,” the event is scheduled for November 16 and will recognize and applaud the achievements of the country’s Olympians in a celebration that promises to blend tradition with modern elegance.
JOA President Christopher Samuda described the event as more than just an evening of glamour, saying, “It will be yesterday’s quintessential traditions blending with contemporary tastes, with both seated comfortably in the values of sport which we celebrate and give primacy in the Olympic movement.” Samuda’s words highlight the significance of this event, which will honour not only the athletes' achievements but also the deeper values and spirit of Olympism that guide their efforts.
Set to be an extraordinary affair, “Olympic Salute” will be a quadrennial tradition moving forward, held after each Olympic Games to celebrate Jamaica’s sporting excellence. JOA Secretary General and CEO Ryan Foster emphasized the lasting importance of such a ceremony, noting, “Excellence is not time-bound. It is timeless. So whenever and wherever the JOA observes it, we will applaud with respect and record for posterity while saluting our Olympic ambassadors, those inspired change makers of a great sporting heritage.”
While the event promises a sophisticated and grand atmosphere, with white gloves, pageantry, and all the trappings of a formal occasion, the core of “Olympic Salute” will be its solemn recognition of the dedication, resilience, and grit shown by Jamaica’s athletes. As Samuda further explained, “It is much more than deserving smiles and golden handshakes. It is a celebration of the mettle, resilience, and gravitas of the Olympic spirit exemplified in historic and gallant performances of our sportsmen and women.”
During the ceremony, the JOA will also unveil a new accolade—the Order of Pre-eminence, which will be the highest honour bestowed by the national sports body. This award is part of the JOA’s ongoing commitment to recognizing not just athletic success but also the values of integrity, sporting valour, and excellence that characterize Jamaica’s contribution to the global sporting community.
The “Olympic Salute” marks a historic milestone in Jamaica’s Olympic movement and is expected to set a standard for future celebrations of the nation’s Olympians, who continue to inspire generations with their dedication and achievements on the world stage.
Yohan Blake launches official fan app following restaurant opening and honours in Fort Lauderdale
Sprint legend Yohan Blake, the second fastest man in history, continues to expand his reach beyond the track with the launch of his official fan app. The announcement, made on social media, comes just days after Blake celebrated the grand opening of his Butcher's Barrel restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was also awarded the Keys to the Region by city officials.
Blake, known for his blistering personal bests of 9.69 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m, remains one of the most electrifying sprinters of all time. His 100m and 200m marks have only been surpassed by fellow Jamaican icon Usain Bolt. Blake, who claimed the 2011 World 100m title in Daegu, South Korea, holds the distinction of being the youngest man ever to win the event, adding to his legacy as one of track and field's greatest athletes.
In his social media post, Blake shared his excitement about the new venture: "Hey guys! ? I’ve just launched my official fan app, available now on iOS and coming soon to Android! Stay connected with me for exclusive updates, content, and more." The app promises to give fans a unique look into the sprinter's life, offering exclusive content and direct engagement with Blake as he continues to build his brand both on and off the track.
The announcement of the fan app follows the recent launch of his Butcher’s Barrel restaurant, where Blake’s entrepreneurial ambitions were on full display. The upscale dining establishment in Fort Lauderdale represents his latest business venture, and the honor of receiving the Keys to the Region highlights the profound impact Blake has had, not just in athletics but in his efforts to give back to the community.
For fans and followers, the new app serves as a direct gateway to stay up to date with Blake’s future projects, behind-the-scenes moments, and personal updates. As he continues to explore new avenues in business and sport, the app provides a platform for his supporters to connect with him in a more personal and interactive way.
Yohan Blake's launch of the fan app marks another milestone in a career that has spanned greatness on the track, a growing presence in business, and a commitment to leaving a lasting legacy.
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