OLYMPIC ATHLETICS CROWNED A DOMINICAN QUEEN: MARILEIDY PAULINO

NEWS

OLYMPIC ATHLETICS CROWNED A DOMINICAN QUEEN: MARILEIDY PAULINO

Aug 10, 2024

Marileidy Paulino knew she had a date with history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and played her cards wisely. Her goal was to return to the podium after winning two silver medals in Tokyo 2020 and she managed her energy in the semifinals to push herself when she needed it most.

The strategy paid off for the 27-year-old athlete, who saw the Stade de France track reach glory in the final. In front of thousands of fans and under the rain, Paulino became the first Dominican woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games and she did it in a big way: with the Olympic record in 400 meters freestyle with a time of 48.17.

🇩🇴 ORO OLÍMPICO CON RÉCORD 🇩🇴

Marileidy Paulino se convierte en Campeona Olímpica en los @juegosolimpicos de @paris2024 en los 400 metros, al hacer tiempo de 48.17 segundos, para establecer una nueva Marca Olímpica.

👏 Felicidades @Marileidy_P, @colimdo y a disfrutar de tus… pic.twitter.com/1IaYieBGxS
— Centro Caribe Sports (@CentroCaribeS) August 9, 2024

Nothing could stop her triumph the runners who accompanied her on the podium in Paris, Salwa Eid Nasar (Bahrain, silver) and the Polish Natalia Kaczmarek, who won the bronze. As every time she finishes a race, Paulino fulfilled the ritual that has made her famous and greeted each of her rivals.

But before that, she raised her arms to the sky to celebrate her conquest, one that puts her in the history of her country’s sport. Until she shone on this Parisian night, the only gold winners for the Dominican Republic had been Felix Sanchez in Athens 2004 and London 2012 (both in 400 meters hurdles), and boxer Felix Diaz in Beijing 2008.

The humble origins of the athlete from Don Gregorio, her talent and her charm on the track have won her the admiration of fans and rivals and her life will be made into a movie.

Marileidy Paulino, who is also a double world champion, has just written a very important chapter in that history and fulfilled a dream and she knows it, even though she was unable to achieve one of her goals in Paris, which was the world record, 47.60, dating back to 1985.

🇩🇴🏆 RÉCORD OLÍMPICO INCLUIDO 🇩🇴🥇🏆@Marileidy_P es la Campeona Olímpica de @juegosolimpicos de #Paris2024, con un tiempo de 48.17 segundos.

LA REYNA DE LAS PISTAS ES DEL CARIBE 🇩🇴🏆🥇#colimdo pic.twitter.com/SiIbabUEAr
— Comité Olímpico Dominicano (@COLIMDO) August 9, 2024