Paris.- Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino made history at the Paris Olympic Games by winning the gold medal in the 400 meters. Paulino not only dominated the final with undisputed authority, but also set a new Olympic record by stopping the clock at 48.17 seconds.
The competition took place on a purple track wet by rain at the Stade de France. Despite the weather conditions, Paulino proved to be far superior to her rivals, crossing the finish line with a considerable advantage over the rest of the finalists.
Coached by Cuban Yaseen Pérez, Paulino has established herself as one of the great figures of world athletics. With her performance in Paris, she became the fourth fastest woman in history in the 400-meter race, breaking an Olympic record that had remained unbeaten since July 29, 1996, when Frenchwoman Marie-José Pérec set it at the Atlanta Games. Curiously, Pérec was in charge of lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on July 26.
In addition to her victory in Paris, Paulino stands as the most Olympic medalist in the history of the Dominican Republic, with three medals in her career. In addition to the two silver medals she won at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the 400 metres and the 4×400 mixed relay, she now wins this gold medal at Paris 2024.
On the podium, Paulino was accompanied by the Bahraini athlete, Salwa Eid Naser, who took the silver medal with a time of 48.53 seconds, and the Polish Natalia Kaczmarek, who won bronze with a time of 48.98 seconds.
Marileidy Paulino’s story is an inspiring example of talent and determination. Despite having no sporting background in her family, Paulino, 27, grew up playing improvised sports in her hometown of Don Gregorio, located an hour from Santo Domingo. Her talent was discovered when she was eighteen years old and playing handball. That’s when the country’s sports minister recruited her to the athletics federation, offering her a monthly salary to join the Air Force as a track and field athlete. Thus, in 2015, Paulino made the transition to athletics.
Initially, Paulino specialized in the 100 and 200 meter events, but in 2020 she decided to focus on the 400 meters, a decision that has taken her to the top of world athletics and made her an icon of Dominican sport.
Marileidy Paulino
Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino has established herself as one of the most prominent figures in world athletics. Born on October 25, 1996, Paulino has left an indelible mark on the sporting history of her country and the world, becoming a symbol of perseverance and excellence.
Paulino rose to fame at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she made history by winning the silver medal in the 400-meter dash. This achievement made her the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win an individual Olympic medal in athletics. Her performance in Tokyo was just the beginning of a meteoric career that would continue to shine on the most important stages of sport.
At the Paris Summer Olympics, Paulino reached the pinnacle of her career by winning the gold medal in the 400 meters, setting a new Olympic record in the discipline. With this triumph, she joined the select group of Dominican athletes who have achieved a gold medal at the Olympic Games, being the third person to achieve such a distinction for her country.
Paulino’s success was not limited to the Olympic Games. At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, she once again demonstrated her greatness by obtaining the silver medal in the 400 meters. In addition, she was a key piece in the mixed 4×400 meter relay, contributing to the conquest of a silver medal in 2021 and a gold in 2022, with impressive times of 48.7 seconds and 48.47 seconds respectively.
Her dominance on the track led her to be recognized as the world number one in the 400 meters since May 2023, consolidating herself as one of the fastest and most consistent athletes on the planet.
Paulino’s achievements also include a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2019 Military World Games, and a gold medal in the 400 meters at the 2022 Ibero-American Championships and the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. In 2022, she was also crowned Diamond League champion in the 400 meters.
The Dominican has not only set a standard in her specialty, but has also broken national records in the 60 meters indoors, the 200 meters indoors and outdoors, as well as the 400 meters. Her career is a testament to talent and dedication, and her legacy in athletics is already assured.
Marileidy Paulino, with her impressive career and Olympic record, is a source of pride for the Dominican Republic and an inspiration to athletes around the world. Her story is that of a champion who continues to write golden chapters in the book of world sport.
