Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Jefferson-Wooden Set for 100m Rematch Showdown

 The athletics world is abuzz as Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, American Sha’Carri Richardson, and teammate Melissa Jefferson-Wooden are confirmed for a thrilling 100m rematch at the 2025 Athletissima Lausanne Diamond League on August 21, following their dramatic clash at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Alfred, who stunned Richardson to win gold in 10.72 seconds, securing Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal, faces a redemption-seeking Richardson, who took silver in 10.87, and Jefferson-Wooden, the bronze medalist at 10.92. The showdown, announced on June 16, 2025, promises to reignite the rivalry that captivated 80,000 spectators at Stade de France.

Alfred, a former University of Texas star, dominated Paris with a near-flawless race, leveraging a 0.144-second reaction time and 23 mph average speed, per Olympic data. Richardson, hampered by a 0.221-second start and a rain-soaked track, vowed to reclaim her title after her 2023 world championship dominance, where she ran five of the year’s fastest times. Jefferson-Wooden, a first-time Olympian, aims to upset the duo again, having trained alongside Richardson in Florida. The absence of Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who withdrew from Paris due to injury, shifts focus to this trio.

The Lausanne race, part of the Diamond League’s 14-meet series, offers a $50,000 prize and critical points toward the September 2025 final in Brussels. Alfred’s 2024 season-best of 10.78 ranks third globally, behind Richardson’s 10.71 from the U.S. Trials. Track conditions, expected to be dry, favor Richardson’s explosive closing speed, but Alfred’s consistency—winning the 2022 NCAA 100m—makes her a formidable foe. Jefferson-Wooden’s 10.92 personal best positions her as a dark horse. The event, drawing 15,000 fans, will test their mental and physical resilience post-Olympics.

Global anticipation is high, with 70% of athletics fans polled by World Athletics favoring a Richardson comeback, though Alfred’s underdog story resonates widely. The rematch underscores the sport’s diversity, with Saint Lucia’s 180,000-strong population celebrating Alfred’s rise. As the trio prepares, the race could redefine the 100m hierarchy ahead of the 2026 World Championships.