PARIS, CMC – The Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino confirmed her status as the world’s best quarter-miler when she stormed to victory in an Olympic record in the women’s 400-meter final here Friday.
The 27-year-old reigning world champion improved on her silver medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning gold this time around in 48.17 seconds.
It marked a historic performance by Paulino, who became the first woman from her country to win Olympic gold.
Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser was a surprise silver medalist in a season’s best time of 48.53, while Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek grabbed bronze in 48.98 seconds.
Barbadian Sada Williams, a bronze medalist at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, finished down the pack in seventh in 49.83 seconds.
“This is the best of my life, absolutely it is,” a thrilled Paulino told Olympics.com after her victory. “I saw myself as very strong. I’ve worked so hard, and now I have an Olympic record.
“For me, this gold medal means a lot. It was the medal that I needed to complete an Olympic cycle, and it was a medal that my country needed.
“It was worth it because I think it will inspire many young people who are in a precarious situation; many doors will open for them because of me,” she added.
However, it was heartbreak for Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert, who finished fourth in the men’s triple jump final.
Hibbert’s leap of 17.61 meters was just .03 short of bronze medalist Andy Diaz of Italy (17.64 meters).
Spain’s Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun won the event, which jumped 17.86 meters, while Pedro Pichardo of Portugal claimed silver (17.84 meters).
Jamaica’s women’s 4×100 meters relay team of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes, and Tia Clayton also finished just outside the medals, placing fifth in a season-best time of 42.29 seconds.
The USA claimed gold, also in a season’s best 41.78 seconds. Great Britain was second in 41.85, and Germany was third in 41.97.
Jamaican Roshawn Clarke did not finish the men’s 400-meter hurdles finals, which Rai Benjamin of the USA won in a season’s best time of 46.46 seconds. a
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