Olympics 400m champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic has stated that her hunger for success remains strong even after her latest triumph at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
Paulino, who claimed her third consecutive Diamond League title on Friday, stormed to victory in the women’s 400 metres with an impressive time of 49.45 seconds at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet.
The 27-year-old, fresh off her historic gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she set a new Olympic record of 48.17 seconds in the 400 meters, continued her dominant season by outpacing her competitors in Brussels.
Despite the cold conditions that prevented her from running closer to her personal best, Paulino was satisfied with her performance but made it clear that she has more to achieve.
“I ran a decent race at the end of a very long season. Of course, I would have loved to run faster and closer to my personal best, but it was really, really cold tonight. This season was fantastic for me,” Paulino remarked after her victory.
With her gold medal from Paris, Paulino has now collected every major title available to her in the 400 meters. However, the reigning Olympic and Diamond League champion emphasized that she is far from finished.
Her sights are set on further accomplishments in the coming years, with a focus on improving her performances and maintaining her competitive edge.
“With the golden medal in Paris, I can say now that I won all the titles that I could win. Still that doesn’t mean that I don’t have any goals left for the next seasons. I want to become better and still win medals at the major championships,” she said.
In the Diamond League Final, Paulino was pushed by her rivals, but none could match her pace.
Alexis Holmes of the USA finished second with a time of 50.32 seconds, while Ireland’s rising star Rhasidat Adeleke crossed the line in third at 50.96 seconds.
However, Paulino’s dominance was clear as she secured another prestigious Diamond Trophy, adding to her growing list of accolades.
The Diamond League victory came with a prize of $30,000 and a coveted wild card entry into the next World Athletics Championships, ensuring that Paulino will have the chance to continue her winning streak on the global stage.
As per Diamond League rules, one man and one woman in each of the 16 disciplines are crowned champions over two days of intense competition.
Paulino’s victory in Brussels caps off what has been a stellar season for the Dominican sprinter.
After clinching Olympic gold in Paris in record-setting fashion, she has consistently shown herself to be the best in the world, overcoming challenges and outpacing her competitors time and time again.
