Dominican Sprinter Marileidy Paulino Sets Olympic Record, Claims Gold in Paris
Marileidy Paulino had one goal at the 2024 Paris Olympics: to win gold in the women’s 400-meter final. And she did just that, not only securing the top spot on the podium but also setting a new Olympic record in the process.
With this victory, Paulino etched her name in history as the first Dominican woman to win Olympic gold. She also became the first Dominican athlete to claim a gold medal since Félix Sánchez’s triumph in the 400m hurdles at the London 2012 Games.
Paulino’s journey to the final was nothing short of spectacular. She dominated the qualifying rounds and the semi-final, consistently proving herself as a top contender. Observers couldn’t help but notice how she strategically slowed down just before the finish line, conserving energy for the final showdown.
Paulino came close to gold in Tokyo, where she earned silver in both the individual 400m and the mixed 4x400m relay. This time, she was determined to go all the way.
“If breaking the record is what it takes to win gold, then I’ll do it,” Paulino declared. And she delivered on that promise.
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The previous Olympic record for the women’s 400m was set by France’s Marie-José Pérec, who clocked 48.25 seconds at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Paulino shattered that mark, finishing in an astonishing 48.17 seconds. (The world record of 47.60 seconds, set by Germany’s Marita Koch in 1985, still stands.)
With reigning Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas absent, Paulino faced fierce competition from Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nasser, the 2019 world champion, who posted the fastest time in the semi-finals at 49.08 seconds. Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek was another formidable rival.
At 27 years old, Paulino is the second youngest of six siblings, with no family background in sports. Growing up in Don Gregorio, a small town about an hour from Santo Domingo, she spent her youth playing pick-up sports. Her talent was first recognized at age 18 when she was spotted playing handball. The country’s sports minister took notice, and she was recruited into the athletics federation.
Paulino’s dedication to track and field deepened after she joined the Dominican Air Force as a salaried athlete in 2015. Although she began her career focusing on the 100m and 200m events, she transitioned to the 400m in 2020, where she found her true calling.
“I started running barefoot, then wore socks, running shoes, and eventually borrowed spikes until I could afford my own,” Paulino recalled in an interview with Olympics.com.
Now, as a flag bearer for the Dominican Republic at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Marileidy Paulino has cemented her legacy as one of the country’s greatest athletes.
