Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia’s sprinting sensation, was the star of the night at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards on Saturday, walking away with two major accolades in recognition of her stellar 2024 season. Held in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, the awards ceremony celebrated the best of Caribbean sport, and Alfred, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, World Indoor 60m champion, and 2024 Wanda Diamond League 100m champion, was the undisputed highlight.

Alfred, currently the top-ranked female athlete from the Caribbean, was named the Caribbean Female Sports Personality of the Year, edging out some of the region’s finest talents, including Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic 400m champion from the Dominican Republic, and former 100m hurdles Olympic gold medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico. With three major titles to her name in 2024, Alfred’s dominance on the track made her the clear favorite for the award.

But that wasn’t the only accolade the 23-year-old star took home. Earlier in the evening, Alfred shared the Breakthrough Award with Dominica’s Thea LaFond, a triple jumper who also had an outstanding year, winning both World Indoors and Olympic gold. This award honors athletes who earned their first medals in major international competitions, and Alfred’s rise to the top of world athletics this year cemented her status as one of the Caribbean's brightest stars.

The CANOC Sports Awards were created to honour the region’s finest athletes, teams, and sports leaders, celebrating their achievements on the international stage. The event also shined a light on sustainability in sports through the IOC Sustainability Awards, adding a broader dimension to the night’s proceedings.

The Caribbean Male Sports Personality of the Year title went to Mijain Lopez Nunez, the five-time Olympic wrestling champion from Cuba, who triumphed over Grenadian decathlete Lindon Victor and Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic made a strong showing in the team categories, with their national women’s volleyball team and men’s football team winning Caribbean Team of the Year honors. The Dominican Republic Olympic Committee was also named National Olympic Committee of the Year, rounding off a successful night for the country.

Other notable winners included Anmar Goodridge-Boyce of Barbados, who was awarded the Caribbean Sports Media Award for his contributions to regional sports coverage, and the late Judy Simons of Bermuda, who was posthumously honored with the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to advancing sports administration in the region.

For Julien Alfred, the night was a fitting tribute to a breakout year on the global stage, solidifying her place as one of the Caribbean’s greatest athletes. As she continues her journey, both on the track and as a role model for aspiring athletes across the region, her achievements at the CANOC Sports Awards underscore her extraordinary talent and the bright future ahead.

Olympic champions Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and Jamaica's Roje Stona are among the nominees for Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards, which will be held on October 19, 2024, in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. This event will celebrate the Caribbean’s top athletes, teams, and sports leaders, and will also feature the IOC Sustainability Awards, highlighting the region's commitment to sustainable sports.

 The CANOC Sports Awards, the first of its kind, have been organized by the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) to honour athletes who have represented the region at the highest levels of competition. The event also recognizes teams, sports administrators, and media professionals for their contributions to the advancement of Caribbean sports.

 Godfrey Been, President of the Turks and Caicos Commonwealth Games Association, expressed his pride in hosting such a significant event. “It is an honour for the Turks and Caicos Islands to host the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards,” Been said. “This event not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of our region's athletes and sports leaders, but also strengthens the bond of unity that sports fosters across the Caribbean. We are proud to play a pivotal role in recognizing the excellence that transcends our sporting communities and showcases the Caribbean on the global sporting stage.”

 Alfred, who made history as Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medalist in 2024, has been nominated in the Female Sports Personality of the Year category. She will compete against other global track stars such as Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Shafiqua Maloney, and Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts.

 In the Male Sports Personality of the Year category, Jamaican discus thrower Stona, who also claimed Olympic gold in Paris, joins an elite field of nominees, including British Virgin Islands' 400m hurdles star Kyron McMaster, Grenada’s decathlete Lindon Victor, Cuban wrestling legend Mijain Lopez Nunez, Trinidad and Tobago’s 200m standout Jereem Richards, and Puerto Rican wrestler Sebastian Rivera.

 In addition to individual honours, the CANOC Sports Awards will also recognize the best male and female teams from across the region. Notable nominees include the Dominican Republic Volleyball Team, the Barbados Triathlon Team, and the Curaçao Baseball Team. Julien Alfred has also been nominated for the Caribbean Breakthrough Award, further cementing her remarkable achievements in 2024.

 Other categories, including the Caribbean Sports Media Award and the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award, will recognize those who have played significant roles behind the scenes, ensuring that Caribbean athletes continue to excel on the international stage.

 As the event approaches, the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards promises to be a historic celebration of Caribbean sporting excellence. Athletes like Alfred and Stona are at the forefront of a new generation of Caribbean talent that continues to shine on the global stage.