"She Wasn't Handed the Best Set of Cards" — Ato Boldon on Julien Alfred
Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson, Paris 2024 Olympic 100m Final
Ato Boldon opened up about the Olympics at Germany’s No. 1 track and field podcast mainathlet, noting how the competition felt more exciting with new athletes like Julien Alfred and Letsile Tebogo taking the titles that traditionally were won by larger track nations.
When asked to rate Netflix’s Sprint Part II against last year’s production, he responded:
“The Olympics were better [than the Worlds] because the stakes were higher”
Boldon should know since he commented on-site for NBC and appears to be the voice of Sprint Part II throughout all episodes. Thirteen World and Olympic Records were set in Paris, leading to the question about the impact of technology on performance.
"There’s a lot of technology in the shoes now. […] It is a key part of the changes shaping the future of sprinting. The sport is evolving quickly and new athletes and innovations are pushing it forward”
She’s not Afraid of the Work
Asked about Julien Alfred, Boldon admires her work ethic and the way she approached her Olympic victory after injuries and other setbacks in life. “She’s not afraid of the work,” Ato said, indicating that her success comes from more than just natural talent.
Alfred moved to Jamaica at the age of 14 and later joined the University of Texas, creating a better future for herself and bringing home the first-ever Olympic medal for St. Lucia.
“She wasn’t handed the best set of cards, but she can do something about it,”
he explained. Alfred had told him that track and field was a way to get out of her circumstances, drawing parallels to the life of Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Her Olympic title in “the most coveted event” shows that anyone — no matter where they come from — can make it with the right mindset.
Ato Boldon at the “mainathlet” podcast
St. Lucia and Botswana
Boldon discussed the importance of the right training system for athletes. He explained that having the right environment and support is crucial, especially for athletes from smaller countries.
“As long as you have a system, it doesn’t matter what country you’re in,”
he said, pointing out that countries with fewer resources, like St. Lucia and Botswana, can still produce world-class athletes with the right support.
For Alfred, her success is the result of a strong system, including her coach Edrick Floreal. Ato mentioned that training alongside athletes like Dina Asher-Smith and Rashida Adeleke helped push Alfred to perform at her best. “That counts for something,” he said. Having the right team behind you is a game changer.
Ato Boldon, Snoop Dogg and Wallace Spearmon at the U.S. Olympic Trials
Competing against Snoop Dogg at the US Trials
Ato shared a fun story from the US Olympic Trials where Snoop Dogg ran the 200m against Wallace Spearmon and himself. “I knew it was going to go viral” he said, recognising the excitement Snoop Dogg brought to the event. He initially warned him:
“Just do the 100. You don’t want to do the 200. […] Wallace Spearmon was a World Medallist, I was a World Champion. Run the 100. He’s like ‘No, I’m 5 deuce. I’m 52. We’re running the deuce’”
Will Julien Alfred continue to dominate the 100m in the coming years? And would you like to see more artists getting involved at track events? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Watch the full interview with Ato Boldon and Benjamin Brömme at mainathlet here!
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