100-meter champion of St Lucia continued her remarkable 2024 season by claiming two prestigious awards at the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees Sports Awards.
Held on Saturday, the ceremony honored the best athletes from across the region, and walked away with the top prize, the Female Sports Personality of the Year, in recognition of her outstanding achievements on the international stage.
The 23-year-old sprinter made history earlier this year at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing her country’s first-ever Olympic medal with a gold in the women’s 100 meters and a silver in the 200 meters.
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Her trailblazing performances placed her ahead of an elite group of female athletes, including Dominican Republic’s Olympic 400 meters champion Marileidy Paulino, Puerto Rican sprint hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Shafiqua Maloney from St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Jamaica’s triple jump star Shanieka Ricketts.
«Julien’s hard work and dedication have paid off in a truly spectacular way. Her performances this year have been nothing short of extraordinary,» said Alfred Emmanuel, President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC).
«We are incredibly proud of her achievements, and there’s no doubt that her impact will be felt for years to come in St Lucia and across the region.»
In addition to being crowned the Caribbean Female Sports Personality of the Year, Alfred also shared the Caribbean Breakthrough Award with Dominica’s Thea LaFond, the Olympic gold medalist in triple jump.
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This award, designed to recognize athletes who have earned their first medal at a continental or international multisport competition, highlighted Alfred’s rise to the pinnacle of global sprinting in 2024.
St Lucian sporting officials, fans, and the broader Caribbean athletic community have been celebrating Alfred’s achievements throughout the year, and these awards cement her status as one of the region’s top sporting icons.
Emmanuel, on behalf of the offered heartfelt congratulations, underscoring the nation’s pride in her accomplishments.
«On behalf of the executive board of the St Lucia Olympic Committee and the entire Olympic family in St Lucia, I want to extend sincere congratulations to Julien for attaining two more awards during her outstanding 2024 season,» Emmanuel said.
«She has shown that dedication and hard work pays off. We have no doubt that before 2024 is over, she will receive many other awards for her remarkable season. Congratulations Julien, and remain focused and healthy—we look forward to the 2025 season.»
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The CANOC Sports Awards, which took place for the first time this year, celebrated a wide range of achievements across various sporting disciplines.
On the men’s side, Cuba’s five-time Olympic wrestling champion, Mijain Lopez Nunez, was named Caribbean Male Sports Personality of the Year, edging out stiff competition from Grenadian decathlete Lindon Victor and Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona.
Other notable winners included the Dominican Republic’s women’s volleyball team and men’s football team, both of which were awarded the Caribbean Team of the Year titles for their outstanding performances.
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The Dominican Republic Olympic Committee was also recognized as the National Olympic Committee of the Year, further solidifying the nation’s sporting achievements in 2024.
Barbadian journalist Anmar Goodridge-Boyce was honored with the Caribbean Sports Media Award, acknowledging his contribution to promoting Caribbean sports across the region, while Bermuda’s late Judy Simons was posthumously awarded the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional work in sports administration.