I watched all his races - Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred explains Usain Bolt inspiration after beating Sha'Carri Richardson to Olympics gold

In a stunning upset at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred blitzed to gold in the 100m final, defeating the heavily favoured Sha'Carri Richardson of the United States.

But the secret behind Alfred's historic victory? A morning spent watching the races of Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.

The Saint Lucian sprinter's words echoed the sentiment of many, as the iconic Bolt continues to inspire a new generation of track and field stars.

Alfred's stunning performance, in which she crossed the line in 10.87 seconds, has solidified her status as one of the rising talents in the sport.

Sha'Carri Richardson had come to the Olympics as the reigning World Champion, eager to claim her first Olympic gold medal.

She had cruised through the semi-finals but found herself unable to keep up with the sheer pace of the Saint Lucian sprinter in the final.

Richardson settled for silver with a time of 10.92 seconds, while Melissa Jefferson claimed the bronze medal. Great Britain's Daryll Neita finished a close fourth, just missing out on a podium place.

Julien Alfred's triumph over the heavily favoured Richardson has undoubtedly cemented her place as one of the rising stars of the sport.

But the young sprinter's journey serves as a testament to the enduring influence of sporting legends like Usain Bolt, who believes he still has the speed in him, whose races continue to inspire the next generation of champions.