Marileidy Paulino Makes History with Olympic Gold

Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the gold medal in the women’s 400-meter final. Not only did she clinch victory on Friday, but she also set a new Olympic Record in the process!

This win marks a historic moment for the Dominican Republic as Paulino becomes the first woman from her country to ever win an Olympic gold. The last time a Dominican Olympian claimed gold was back in 2012 when Félix Sánchez triumphed in the 400m hurdles.

Throughout the qualifying rounds and semi-final, Paulino displayed exceptional speed and technique. Notably, she would often ease her pace slightly before crossing the finish line, leading many to believe she was holding back for the final showdown.

Paulino came close to winning gold during the Tokyo Games but had to settle for silver in both the individual 400m event and the mixed 4x400m relay. Embracing her chance in Paris, she made sure to seize the moment.

“If it is necessary (to break the record) to win the gold medal, I will do it,” Paulino confidently stated, and she certainly did.

With a time of 48.17 seconds, Paulino broke the previous Olympic record of 48.25 seconds held by France’s Marie-José Pérec since 1996. This impressive feat puts her as the fifth-fastest woman in the 400 meters in Olympic history!

Even without the reigning Olympic champion from the Bahamas, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the competition was fierce. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasser was a strong contender, having clocked the best time in the semi-finals at 49.08 seconds, while Polish sprinter Natalia Kaczmarek also posed a challenge.

At 27 years old and the second youngest among six siblings, Paulino had no prior athletic background until she was spotted while playing handball at age 18. Her talent was recognized by the country’s sports minister, leading to her recruitment into the athletics federation.

Paulino was later offered a position with the Dominican Air Force as a track and field athlete, choosing to focus on the sport seriously in 2015. Initially competing in the 100m and 200m events, she transitioned to the 400m in 2020.

“I started running barefoot, then wore socks, running shoes, and then borrowed spikes until I was finally able to buy my own pair,” she recalled.

As a proud moment for her country, she has been selected as a flag bearer for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

Additionally, American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also made headlines by breaking her own world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, retaining her Olympic title with a stunning time of 50.37 seconds.