Sprint Queen crowned and it’s not Richardson

MANILA, Philippines — Julien Alfred from St. Lucia powered to a historic 100m Olympic gold Saturday, the first Games medal ever won by the Caribbean island, just hours after US gymnastics legend Simone Biles had also vaulted into the history books.

With firsts being made all over Paris on an action-packed day, a row over gender eligibility in boxing rumbled on as the Algerian in the spotlight boxed her way to a guaranteed medal.

Alfred conjured up a superb race in the Parisian rain to shock favorite Sha’Carri Richardson into silver with a time of 10.72 seconds in front of a raucous crowd at the Stade de France.

The 23-year-old was in tears of celebration after sealing a sensational win – she had never finished on the podium at a major outdoor championships prior to Saturday’s final.

“It feels amazing... it still hasn’t sunk in,” Alfred said.

There was also heartbreak for two-time 100m gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica, who pulled out just before the semifinal, apparently injured.

The flamboyant Richardson was bidding for redemption three years since a positive marijuana test after her victory at the US trials wrecked her Olympic dreams in Tokyo.

Biles nails 3rd gold

From one redemption campaign to another.

US gymnastics great Simone Biles clinched her third gold in Paris after famously imploding in Tokyo with the debilitating mental block known as the “twisties.”

Her demons well and truly conquered, the 27-year-old Biles landed a stunning vault so difficult no other woman even attempts it. 

“I kind of nailed that one,” grinned Biles, who admitted she was tempted by her home Olympics in Los Angeles in four years but was not getting any younger.

Ledecky makes history

More history was made in the pool on the penultimate night of swimming as US legend Katie Ledecky powered to a fourth straight 800m freestyle title.

Her ninth career Olympic gold at the age of 27 equaled former Soviet-era artistic gymnast Larisa Latynina as the most decorated woman Olympian in any sport.

Ledecky is being hailed as the greatest distance swimmer the sport has seen.