Even before she was a teenager Julien Alfred’s seemed destined to be a track star and her domination at the local level left strong hints that promised she would have been a force to be reckoned with not just regionally but also on the world stage.

That journey reached another major milestone Monday when she copped the silver medal in the women’s 100 metres at the Youth Olympic Games which comes to a close in Buenos Aires Argentina on Thursday. The remarkable feat meant Saint Lucia had captured its first medal at such a prestigious event during  its third  outing.  Last year was also highly rewarding for the young sprinter, after  winning the gold medal in the same event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas

 It also made the island one of two from the English speaking Caribbean to pick up a spot on the medals table in this year’s Youth Olympics, the other being regional powerhouses Jamaica, who had one bronze medal at that stage of the Games.

The 17 year old crossed the finish  line in her second stage race  in 11.23 for a combined 23.22 losing out on the gold medal by just two hundredths of a second to Nigerian Rosemary Chukuma.  Gabriela Analie Suarez of Ecuador won bronze.

” My dad passed away five years  ago and he always hoped to see me compete here today, ”  Alfred said after her medal run.  She stated  that it was a bitter sweet moment for her as October 17 would have been his birthday and that she had travelled to Argentina mere days after the passing of her aunt.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally notified the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated (SLOC Inc.)  that it has awarded IOC Member and Immediate Past President of the (SLOC Inc.) with the prestigious Olympic Order.

By way of letter to the SLOC inc’s President Fortuna Belrose,  dated October 12   2018, the IOC confirmed that at its Executive Board meeting October 3-4   2018 agreed on granting the award to Mr Peterkin  for his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement.

The IOC further stated that an award ceremony will take place during the IOC’s 134 th session  in June 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the IOC haedquarters is located.

Meanwhile members of the Executive Board of the SLOC Inc have all saluted their Immediate Past President for the wonderful recognition shown by the IOC

” We indeed salute you ! Congratulations ! Richard’s sterling contribution to the Olympic fraternity is well noted. He went into the movement at a time when it needed major reformation. He worked in the movement in particularly contributing significantly in the areas of good governance and financing. We are indeed proud of his achievement. Well done! ” President Belrose said. 

Other tributes have come from  other bodies  in the sub-region. President of the National Olympic  Committees of the Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES) A. E. Bridgewater said

 ” The historical significance of the moment does not escape me as it may very well be that you are the first OECS representative to have  achieved IOC membership status, and now, this prestigious accolade.”

The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated were presented with their accreditation package Wednesday August 29 1018, ahead of October’s Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Present were officials from the Embassy of the Argentine Republic, including Head of Mission Nicholas Carlos-Abad and Richard Lake, Corporate Services and Protocol Officer, and SLOC Inc. Executive Board members.

In photo, Head of Mission Nicholas Carlos-Abad presents accreditation package to President of the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated Fortuna Belrose , while chief of mission for Saint Lucia’s team Liota Charlemagne-Mason looks on.

Saint Lucia’s eight member team will be officially announced shortly.

Saint Lucia’s most decorated athlete Levern Donaline Spencer brought further world attention to the island with a magnificent performance in an action packed final day of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia capturing the Gold medal in the Women’s high jump .

There was a buzz in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean from dawn on Saturday morning that continued throughout the day as she ended a 56 year wait for the island’s first Commonwealth Gold medal. Saint Lucia first competed in the 1962 Commonwealth Games when Imbert Roberts competed in the shot put and has had representation at all games since the 1994 edition in Victoria, Canada.

Spencer held her form and confidence despite a tense battle with England’s Morgan Lake. The 33 year old had a best jump of 1.95 metres. Lake was forced to settle for the silver with 1.93 metres. The bronze medal went to Australia’s Nicola Mc Dermott for a clearance of 1.91 metres. Spencer had previously won bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow in 2014 . Pole Vaulter Dominic Johnson also won a Commonwealth Bronze medal for Saint Lucia during the 2002 Games in Manchester , England .

” It’s a really good feeling and I am happy I’m the one making history for my country. I got bronze in the last two Commonwealth Games and was determined to work hard this time to win gold. My results today were good enough,” Spencer told reporters after her performance.

Meanwhile, President of Commonwealth Games Saint Lucia, Fortuna Belrose expressed her organisation’s elation on Spencer’s Gold medal winning performance in Australia.

” it is a success symbol of her longevity and a good reflection for all young people. It highlights her determination and it took time which shows her discipline. It is a great achievement for our country and others in the region that are part of the Commonwealth, ” Belrose added.

Commonwealth Games Association Saint Lucia is proud of Miss Spencer on this impressive performance giving her the distinction of the trifecta of Golds in CAC, Pan American and now Commonwealth Games. The organisation and affiliates wish her the very best as she aims for further glory for herself and the nation with Olympics in Tokyo 2020 within her sight.

The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated (SLOC Inc.) made another handsome payout to Member Federations to assist them in the execution of their programming and participation in regional sporting events.

Three Federations were recipients on this occasion during a presentation held at the Headquarters of the Committee ON Wednesday March 21 2018. They were Swimming, Track and Field and Table Tennis.

Each Federation received a donation of EC $ 13, 350 towards participation in the recent CARIFTA Games while swimming received an additional EC$ 4, 382. 13 towards young swimmer Jayhan Odlum – Smith under the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) programme. In all Swimming received a total of EC $ 17, 732.13. The funds for Table Tennis went towards assistance for participation in under 15 and under-18 Cadet and Junior Caribbean Table Tennis Championship which was held in Cuba April 2-7 .

This latest wave of disbursements brought a grand total of EC$ 428, 977.94 paid out by the SLOC Inc to Member Federation so far for the year 2018.

The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated is expressing pleasure with the outcome of a week of activities in observance of Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC).

The week culminated with a walk, mainly among Member Federations and their athletes on Sunday morning. The walk started outside the Castries market, made its way on a prescribed city circuit route and ended at the Headquarters of the Committee situated at the La Clery and Vide Boutielle junction.

Secretary General of the Committee, Alfred #Emmanuel thanked all participants of Sunday’s walk and express gratitude to member Federations for their participation in the week’s events. Among the activities held were domino nights among members, visits to the headquarters and museum of the SLOC Inc. by various schools, an address that was televised and printed in the local media, and other development sessions for athletes and the furtherance of an athletes commission.

The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee  Incorporated  will be joining other National Olympic Committees in the region in the  observance of  Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC ) week 2018.

Observances will run from Sunday March 4 to Sunday March 11 and will be preceded by a press briefing on Thursday March 1.  The SLOC will stage a  domino evening for males from their member Federations, on March 4 from 3- 6 pm. Schools will be invited to send students  to visit the recently commissioned Saint Lucia Olympic Committee House during  March 5-9  and to view the exhibits at the museum mounted at the premises.

On Tuesday March 6  Commonwealth Games Federation  Regional Vice President , Senator, the Honourable  Fortuna Belrose will have an addressed published in the local print media, and on Wednesday March  7, there will be  a meeting with athletes  in relation  to the formation  of an Athletes Commission. The females among affiliates  will have an opportunity to try their hands at a domino night  from 6-9 pm on Friday March 9, again at the Committee House.

The week will culminate with  a 5k walk  on Sunday March 11 which will end outside the SLOC Inc Headquarters.

Four of the island’s leading boxers are in Trinidad and Tobago where they are  participating in a one month preparation camp  for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Qualifier in Mexico, and the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Funding for the four boxers came from the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated after an invitation was extended by the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association, Cecil Forde to the Saint Lucia Boxing Association to send a group of boxers to the camp . The SLOC Inc paid the airfares, covered accommodation cost and meals for the participants of the camp. Out of pocket allowance was also given to the boxers and where there were issues of lost of income, the SLOC Inc ensured there was compensation.

Also attending the camp are boxers from Anguilla, Barbados and Guyana.

In the accompanying photo the four Saint Lucian boxers are pictured just before departure from the George F.L. Charles Airport. Left to right, Nathan Ferrari, Lyndell Marcellin, Marvin Anthony and Kareem Boyce.