Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has been forced to withdraw from the women’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after sustaining a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old Saint Lucian sprinter, who claimed bronze in the 100m final on Sunday with a time of 10.84 seconds behind American gold medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Jamaican silver medalist Tina Clayton, revealed that she had been carrying the injury since the warm-up before the final.
Her camp confirmed on Monday that Alfred, who also won silver in the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, would not compete further in Tokyo.
“On the advice of medical professionals and in consultation with her management team, our Olympic champion and 100m World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, Julien Alfred has been withdrawn from the women’s 200m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo,” the St Lucia Athletics Federation said in a statement.
“Julien sustained a grade 1 hamstring strain. The decision to withdraw prioritises her health and long-term career.”
The news is a major blow for Alfred, who had been one of the favorites to challenge for the 200m title. Her absence leaves the path clearer for defending champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who is seeking redemption after missing out on a medal in the 100m, and Jefferson-Wooden, whose blistering form has already made her the standout sprinter of the season.
The women’s 200m heats are scheduled for Monday, but they will now be without both the Olympic gold and silver medallists. American Gabby Thomas, who took silver in Paris, had earlier withdrawn from the championships due to an Achilles injury.
With Alfred and Thomas missing, Jefferson-Wooden will headline the event. At just 22, she has rapidly risen from Olympic bronze in Paris to world 100m champion in Tokyo and will be eyeing further glory in the 200m and the 4x100m relay.
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