Backed by seemingly limitless pockets and cheered by millions, athletes from the developed world are expected to medal. The world does not bat an eye at the sight of an American or British victory; hardly do the first-world countries ever claim their wins. Such is the soulless quid pro quo of sports in the developed world.

Full of soul, however, is Julien Alfred, who left her island-home to reclaim Fair Helen’s dignity. Every bead of sweat and leg thrust led her to this moment of realisation. Front of mind was her country, largely considered unremarkable save for its Pitons.

The longest 10.72 seconds was recorded in the world’s history, as Julien Alfred bested athletes considered the world’s best.

On that track, the only boast is one’s time from start to finish. The might and mettle of your country are fleeting as the reality of the ground beneath you is felt.

Inadvertently, she continued the dismemberment of oppressive global structures designed to outpace and overwhelm people like her. Within this 10.72-second window, she legitimised her country’s often bastardised lineage.

Boisterously, the kwéyòl of her strides undermined the canons of the French language. Within that short time, she united the growing factions of Saint Lucia and inspired confidence in the abilities of her people.

Gold and Silver are now the standards expected of Saint Lucians - and certainly to the dismay of the countries cast adrift by the wave of her athletic prowess.

Along the street sides in Saint Lucia, you hear talks of other Lucians who could have been so successful had they, too, been invested in; Lucians who are now nameless and faceless.

You hear older cricketers vindicated as, at one time, Saint Lucians would not have been picked for the Cricket West Indies team.

 In many ways, Julien Alfred overturned the notion that Saint Lucians are “small island people” by overturning “big country people.”