On Wednesday (August 23), sprinter Marileidy Paulino became the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win a world title – and she left no crumbs. The 26-year-old athlete captured the women’s 400m gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in a national record of 48.76 seconds.

“A lot of emotions are rushing through me,” Paulino said. “This national record means a lot to me. It is really incredible, but I have been preparing for this for a long time, working hard to achieve a goal like this. The gold medal was my dream, and I had the talent to turn this dream into reality.”

U.S. sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t form part of the competition with an injury. McLaughlin-Levrone holds the world record in the 400m hurdles and still has the fastest time in the 400m flat race at 48.74 seconds.

Also, Bahamian sprinter and defending world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo did not compete in the race. She failed to reach the championship but was commended by everyone for returning to the track only four months after giving birth.

Last year, Paulino won silver at the world championships. She also won silver at the 2020 Olympics. In both 400m races, Miller-Uibo took home the gold. 

Paulino was born in the city of Nizao in the Dominican Republic. She and her five siblings were raised by a single mother. As of 2021, she was enrolled at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, where she studied physical education. She also served as a corporal in the Dominican Air Force.