'I Care More About Medals' – Julien Alfred Responds to Prefontaine Classic Loss to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden

Reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has once again addressed her loss to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, competing on home soil, clocked a stunning 10.75 seconds to impress fans as Julien Alfred was forced to take second in 10.77.

Speaking after dropping a world-leading time in the 200m at the Diamond League Meeting in London, Julien Alfred opened up about how her loss to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden changed her mindset.

Julien Alfred revealed that going into the 200m in London, where she clocked 21.71 seconds, she was confident in herself, and that is how she managed to make a mark.

In a video shared by Citius Mag on YouTube, Julien Alfred explained that the Prefontaine event had shifted his mindset, even though she did not win it.

The Olympic 200m silver medallist added that she is now at a point in her life where her focus is solely on working her way to the top.

“I'm not the world leader right now, but I care more about medals. So, it's pretty, not really on my back as much as on somebody else's back. So, I look at it in that way,” Julien Alfred affirmed.

“I'm doing good. I feel good. I'm a little more confident going into Tokyo now, seeing my strength. It's just a matter of time for it to come out, and it's really trusting my coach and trusting God and knowing that it's all there. It's going to come out when he needs to.”

Julien Alfred has turned her loss at the Prefontaine Classic into motivation, shifting her mindset and building confidence as she sharpens her focus ahead of the World Championships, where her eyes are firmly set not on rankings, but on winning medals.

She started her season with the indoor tour, where she was unbeaten before making her outdoor debut in the 300m at the Miramar Invitational.

Alfred maintained a winning streak in four races, the Tom Jones Memorial, 75. Boris Hanžeković Memorial and the Diamond League Meetings in Oslo and Stockholm.

She then lost the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic before bouncing back to winning ways at the Diamond League Meetings in Monaco and London.