While Olympic champion Julien Alfred continues to shine as Saint Lucia’s premier athletic icon, an impressive cohort of emerging talents is now forging its own path on the international stage. These rising stars across multiple disciplines signal a remarkable expansion of the island nation’s sporting prowess beyond its track and field traditions.
The teenage sprint sensation Jady Emmanuel made history at the CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago, becoming Saint Lucia’s first-ever double sprint champion. The 16-year-old from Morne Laborie dominated the Under-17 girls’ 100m and 200m events with spectacular times of 11.50 and 23.47 seconds respectively—the latter setting a new national record for U-18 athletes.
In aquatic competition, 12-year-old Sapphire Parks delivered an astonishing performance at her CARIFTA Aquatics Championships debut. The youngest Team Saint Lucia member captured four gold medals among her eight-medal haul, earning the high point trophy in her division and already targeting the 2026 Martinique edition.
Cricket witnessed the ascent of Ackeem Auguste, whose 229-run performance for the Saint Lucia Kings propelled him to the West Indies T20 and ODI teams. The 22-year-old has since accumulated 13 international appearances, including a half-century against Bangladesh.
Basketball standout Megan Nestor achieved legendary status by becoming only the third NCAA Division I athlete since 1981 to record a 30-point, 30-rebound game. The 6’4″ center from Canaries has transitioned seamlessly from record-breaking performances at Wayland Baptist to commanding the boards at the University of North Texas.
Football prospect Donavan Phillip emerged as NCAA Division I’s leading scorer for North Carolina State, earning selection by Colorado Rapids in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The talented forward now faces the consequential decision between returning to college or pursuing professional opportunities.
Defying conventional athletic timelines, 41-year-old mother Ava Fevrier has revolutionized Saint Lucian distance running since taking up the sport in 2022. The New York-based Dennery native now holds six national records, including half-marathon and marathon benchmarks, while fostering community through her curated WhatsApp group for Saint Lucian runners.
Table tennis prodigy Shatal Charles, despite her diminutive stature, has dominated regional competition. The 15-year-old former Caribbean U-13 champion swept club competitions in Grenada, secured silver at the OECS Championships, and advanced to knockout rounds at the Caribbean Youth Championships.
Bodybuilding witnessed Shani Victorin’s triumphant performance at the 52nd IFBB Central American and Caribbean Championship hosted in Saint Lucia. Her gold medal performances in women’s fit model and bikini fitness categories earned her a professional card—only the second Saint Lucian woman to achieve this distinction.
Boxing talents John Didier and Alex Nachan captured gold at the Caribbean Championships, with 19-year-old light heavyweight Didier subsequently earning most outstanding boxer honors at the OECS Championships and making history as the first Saint Lucian to advance past opening rounds at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships.
Completing this diverse athletic movement, former heptathlon record holder Makeba Alcide now shapes Saint Lucia’s sporting future through her dual roles as coach and administrator, serving on the Saint Lucia Athletics Association executive and leading athlete empowerment as president of the Athletes Commission.