Marileidy Paulino
Olympic gold medalist in the 400 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics and world champion sprinter.
Biography
Marileidy Paulino is a Dominican sprinter known as one of the top 400-meter runners in the world. Born on October 25, 1996, in Nizao, Dominican Republic, she has made history for her country in international athletics. Paulino first caught the world's attention at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning a silver medal in the 400 meters, becoming the first Dominican woman to earn an individual Olympic medal in athletics. This achievement marked her rise as a leading world sprinter.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Paulino won the gold medal in the 400 meters, making her the third person from the Dominican Republic to win Olympic gold. She has consistently excelled in her event, including a silver medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Since May 2023, she has been ranked as the world's number one 400-meter runner.
Paulino also shines in relay events. She has been a key part of the Dominican Republic's success in the mixed 4×400-meter relay, winning silver at the Tokyo Olympics and gold at the 2022 World Championships. Her relay splits of 48.7 seconds in 2021 and 48.47 seconds in 2022 show her ability to deliver under pressure in team events. These contributions have raised the profile of Dominican athletics globally.
Throughout her career, Paulino has won many titles. She took gold in the 400 meters at the 2022 Ibero-American Championships and the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. Her win in the 2022 Diamond League 400-meter title reinforced her standing as the world's top quarter-miler. She also earned a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2019 Military World Games, displaying her range in sprint events. Paulino holds several Dominican national records, including in the indoor 60 meters, both indoor and outdoor 200 meters, and the 400 meters.
Before Fame
Growing up in Nizao, a small town in the Dominican Republic, Paulino honed her athletic skills at a time when Dominican track and field was trying to make a name for itself internationally. The country had few athletes in international competitions, especially among women sprinters, presenting both obstacles and opportunities for new talent.
Paulino's rise to fame happened alongside increased investment in athletics programs in the Caribbean during the 2010s. She developed as the sport was becoming more professional worldwide, with better training and support available to athletes from smaller countries. This setting helped her progress from local competitions to gaining international recognition through structured development and access to higher-level coaching.
Key Achievements
- Olympic gold medalist in 400 meters at 2024 Paris Olympics
- First Dominican woman to win an individual Olympic athletics medal (silver, 2020 Tokyo)
- World champion in mixed 4×400m relay at 2022 World Athletics Championships
- 2022 Diamond League 400m champion
- World number one ranked 400m runner since May 2023
Did You Know?
- 01.She holds the Dominican Republic national record in five different events: indoor 60m, indoor 200m, outdoor 200m, and 400m
- 02.Her relay split of 48.47 seconds at the 2022 World Championships helped the Dominican Republic win their first-ever gold medal in a relay event
- 03.She competed at the Military World Games in 2019, winning silver in the 200 meters before focusing primarily on the 400-meter distance
- 04.Paulino has maintained the world number one ranking in the 400 meters since May 2023
- 05.She is only the third person from the Dominican Republic to win an Olympic gold medal in any sport