In the first event of the second day at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest (Hungary), Dominica Republic star Marileidy Paulino produced her expected champion performance to lift the historic inaugural title in the women’s 400m event.
Both semifinals of the women’s 400m were organised on the opening day, from which the top four athletes from each Semifinal advanced to the Final.
In the Final on Saturday, Marileidy completed the race in 49.07 seconds to lift the historic title. Henriette Jæger from Norway (49.28), Nickisha Pryce from Jamaica (49.56), and Lieke Klaver from the Netherlands (49.91) secured the next three places, all by completing the race in under 50 seconds. Chilean Martina Weil produced her season-best performance by finishing the race in exactly 50 seconds.
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Women’s 400m – Champion
Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic): 49.07
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Women’s 400m – Final Status
Rank | Athlete (Nation) | Time | Notes |
1 | Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic) | 49.07 | |
2 | Henriette Jæger (Norway) | 49.28 | |
3 | Nickisha Pryce (Jamaica) | 49.56 | |
4 | Lieke Klaver (Netherlands) | 49.91 | |
5 | Martina Weil (Chile) | 50.00 | SB |
6 | Aaliyah Butler (United States) | 50.12 | |
7 | Roxana Gómez (Cuba) | 50.21 | |
8 | Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) | 50.22 |
*SB = Season Best for a player
Who is Marileidy Paulino?
Dominican Republic star Marileidy Paulino won Paris 2024 Summer Olympics gold medal in the women’s 400m event. She has recorded four Diamond League titles (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026), including winning the last week. She also won the World Athletics Championships gold medal in this event in 2023.
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