In a dramatic turn of events at the Stade de France, Julien Alfred of St. Lucia claimed the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters, thwarting Sha’Carri Richardson’s highly anticipated bid for victory.

Alfred, 23, navigated the rainy conditions and the puddles with remarkable skill, finishing the race in 10.72 seconds. Her performance not only secured her gold but also marked the largest margin of victory in the Olympic 100 meters since 2008, as she beat Richardson by 0.15 seconds.

Richardson, who had been a prominent figure in the buildup to the Games, faced a challenging evening. Despite the hype surrounding her, she fell short in what was expected to be a defining moment of her career.

Alfred’s triumph also delivered a historic win for St. Lucia, earning the tiny Caribbean island its first-ever Olympic medal of any color.