Marileidy Paulino wins 400m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (© AFP / Getty Images)
Marileidy Paulino, silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago, went one better in the women’s 400m in Paris tonight as she set an Olympic record of 48.17 to become the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win a gold in any sport at the Games.
The historic element of the race was compounded by the fact that this was the first time in a women’s 400m race that the top three all finished inside 49 seconds, with Bahrain’s 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser getting silver in 48.53 and Poland’s European champion Natalia Kaczmarek earning bronze in 48.98.
It was also the first women’s 400m race where all eight competitors bettered 50 seconds.
The 27-year-old from Nizao, Peravia, who managed a similar upgrade in winning world gold last year, eclipsed the mark of 48.25 set by France’s most successful female track and field Olympian, Marie-Jose Perec at the 1996 Atlanta Games after a dominant performance.
Ireland’s high hopes of a medal for 21-year-old Rhasidat Adeleke, the European silver medallist and 2023 NCAA champion, were ultimately frustrated as she came home fourth in 49.28 after striving to challenge Kaczmarek over the final 50 metres.
It was the same position that Adeleke – who trains with Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred under the guidance of Edrick Floreal at the University of Texas – achieved at the last year’s World Championships in Budapest.
Amber Anning, who played a major part in earning mixed 4x400m bronze for Britain on Sunday night, was closing fast on the Irish runner but crossed a fraction behind her in a national record of 49.29.
Behind her, Alexis Holmes, who had anchored the USA to mixed 4x400m gold at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, also set a personal best, clocking 49.77.
Sada Williams of Barbados, the double world bronze medallist and Commonwealth champion, was seventh in 49.83, with Norway’s Henriette Jaeger clocking 49.96 in eighth place.
On a track glistening after recent rain, Paulino, in lane six, remained composed as Naser took up the early running two lanes outside her.
By the time the field came into the finishing straight, Paulino held a lead which she extended all the way to the line which she crossed well ahead of those striving behind her.
"It's the only medal that I was missing to complete the Olympic cycle,” Paulino said. "I'm very thankful to God, for myself, for my job. I have been working really hard to achieve this goal.
“I'm very happy, I still cannot believe that just happened. It was either going for the world record or the Olympic record, and thank God, I achieved the Olympic record.
"I want to dedicate this medal to my team, my coach, my family, the Dominican people that have been watching me and cheering for me.”
Asked about her motivation, she replied: “I don't come to compete for the money, but because I love athletics, to help motivate the younger generations and because these achievements are also doors that are being opened for the future generations of Dominican people.
"I want to keep focusing on the next World Championships. I'm not done yet. After the Olympic Games of Paris 2024 I have other competitions and my studies as well."
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics
| WOMEN'S 400m MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Marileidy Paulino (DOM) | 48.17 OR |
| 🥈 | Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) | 48.53 |
| 🥉 | Natalia Kaczmarek (POL) | 48.98 |
| Full results | ||
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