Chalien Dantes/Contributor

St Luican Olympic champion Julien Alfred made waves this weekend well beyond the track. 

Her race-worn spikes from this year’s competitions sold for an impressive US$75,000 at a fundraising event that helped raise over US$100,000 to support young athletes back home. The auction, hosted by BodyHoliday, featured her signature PUMA Nitro sprint spikes worn during her historic bronze medal win at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships and her second consecutive Wanda Diamond League 100m title.

The winning bidder, American basketball coach and businessman Kevin Graves, who manages NBA star Bam Adebayo, was visiting Saint Lucia and eagerly snapped up the spikes. Other items auctioned included Alfred’s PUMA jersey and race bib from Tokyo, bought by local political hopeful Marcellus Bax Stiede for US$1,900.

Generous donations poured in from various supporters: an anonymous gift of $25,000, contributions from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Sunswept Resorts/BodyHoliday, Bay Gardens, and the Daren Sammy Foundation all boosted the cause. Olympians Vernon Norwood from the USA and Ireland’s Rashidat Adeleke also showed their support and promised to return to St.lucia.

Together, the event celebrated Alfred’s incredible journey while fueling the dreams of the next generation of Saint Lucian athletes.