Julien Alfred is fresh off a commanding and statement-making performance at the London Diamond League, where she set a new world lead, personal best, meet record, and national record for St. Lucia in the 200m. Her race last weekend was not only dominant—it was arguably the most commanding women's 200m of the season so far. Alfred ran with championship-level poise, and it showed in both her time and her form.

Alfred clocked a 21.71 into a -0.6 m/s headwind, and surged away from the field in impressive fashion.

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Many athletes show gradual improvement over time, but with Alfred, the shift has been immediate since the Olympics in Paris last August. As we look ahead to the World Championships, it's worth reflecting on where she was and more importantly where she is now.

At last year’s Olympics, Alfred claimed silver in the 200m behind Gabby Thomas, finishing in 22.08 to Thomas’s 21.82. In that race, Alfred had a decent start, appeared to lose some ground coming off the curve, but rallied in the final 60 meters to secure second place. At the time, fatigue from multiple rounds in the 100m and 200m may have played a role in her execution.

Fast forward 11 months to July 2025, and it’s clear: a new version of Julien Alfred has emerged. After extending her range and racing longer distances earlier in the season (including indoors) Alfred has developed a new level of fitness and confidence. That championship mindset is evident. In her most recent Diamond League victory, she clocked a blazing 21.71 into a -0.6 headwind, just like in Paris. What’s particularly noticeable is the way she got out the blocks then onto the margin of victory. She beat her training partner and 2019 world champion Dina Asher-Smith by more than half a second, with Asher-Smith clocking 22.25. Alfred even slightly slowed up before crossing the line. That kind of gap at the elite level is telling.

What’s different about her now compared to last year? Alfred is racing with more control and running her own race rather than reacting to the field. Her top-end speed and ability to maintain it have noticeably improved, likely due to the endurance built through her expanded race schedule. Most notably, her transition from the curve into the home straight has become a major strength—this is where races are decided, and Alfred is excelling.

If this trend continues, we may very well be looking at the 2025 200m world champion.

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