St. Lucian sprint sensation Julien Alfred has been nominated for the 2024 Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award, placing her among the world’s most promising athletes recognized for their remarkable rise on the global stage.
Alfred, who captured St. Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, is one of two track and field athletes in the Breakthrough of the Year category, alongside Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion and his country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist. Their nominations highlight a generational shift in sprinting, as both young stars have made an immediate impact on the world stage.
The 25th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards will take place on April 21 in Madrid, celebrating the finest achievements across global sport.
Alfred and Tebogo’s nominations further solidify track and field’s presence at the Laureus Awards, with several other top athletes earning spots in the Athlete of the Year categories.
In the Female Athlete of the Year category, Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA), Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), and Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) have all been recognized. McLaughlin-Levrone’s 400m hurdles world record and double Olympic gold in Paris 2024 cemented her as a frontrunner. Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic 1500m champion, added a silver in the 5000m, while Hassan showcased incredible endurance with gold in the marathon and bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m.
Joining them are gymnastics icon Simone Biles, football star Aitana Bonmati, and tennis Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka.
On the men’s side, pole vault world record holder and double Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis is a nominee for Male Athlete of the Year, following a stellar season where he raised his own world record twice. Other nominees include Carlos Alcaraz (tennis), Leon Marchand (swimming), Tadej Pogacar (cycling), and Max Verstappen (Formula 1).
Alfred’s nomination underscores the historic nature of her Olympic triumph, not only for her own career but also for St. Lucia, as she became the island nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist. Her rapid rise in the sprinting world has now placed her in contention for one of sports' most prestigious accolades.
With the Laureus Awards celebrating their 25th anniversary, this year’s ceremony promises to be an unforgettable night as the world's best athletes gather in Madrid to honour excellence in sport.