The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) has revealed it was caught completely off guard after Olympic champion Julien Alfred withdrew from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite previously assuring officials that the event was a key part of her competition schedule.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, July 16, the SLOC and the Saint Lucia Commonwealth Games Association expressed deep disappointment over Alfred’s decision not to compete at the Games, which run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow.
According to the committee, meetings held in 2025 with Alfred and her manager, Henry Rolle, left officials confident that the Commonwealth Games had been firmly included in her 2026 plans. However, the organization said it only became aware of her withdrawal during a recent meeting with the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) convened to finalize team logistics.
Seeking clarification, SLOC requested an explanation from Alfred’s management. The committee said it initially received only a brief response through the SLAA before contacting Rolle directly. While a more detailed explanation was eventually provided, SLOC described it as “rather unfortunate” but stopped short of revealing the specific reason behind Alfred’s absence.
The withdrawal represents a significant setback for Saint Lucia’s hopes of adding to its medal tally, particularly after Alfred publicly declared earlier this year that winning Commonwealth gold was one of her major ambitions.
Speaking to the Commonwealth Games’ official media platform in January, Alfred made it clear she intended to improve on the silver medal she captured at the previous Games.
“I got a silver medal the last time. I’m hoping to upgrade that to a gold and add to my collection of medals. It would mean a lot… What I’m trying to do now, you know, build a legacy,” Alfred had said.
Despite its disappointment, the SLOC stressed that its long-term preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games remain firmly on course. The committee ended its statement by wishing Alfred continued success in her professional career and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting her whenever she represents Saint Lucia on the international stage.
