At her first Diamond League race of the 2026 season, Marileidy Paulino had a point to prove.
The 400m Olympic champion had lost her Diamond League title for the first time in three years at last season’s final, ending a winning streak of 11 competitions in the series.
Now, the world number one was back and determined to regain the title in 2026.
If there was any doubt over her status as world number one, Paulino dispelled it in Doha.
Up against the likes of Natalia Bukowiecka, the Dominican Republic star was several strides ahead of the rest of the field as she crossed the line in first place.
The Wanda Diamond League’s Official Timekeeper OMEGA clocked her at 48.91.
With that, Paulino had set a new Doha meeting record, shaving almost a second off Allyson Felix’s previous mark from 2008.
“Before I came here I wanted to open with 48 seconds and that’s what I did,” she said.
“I am working hard on the weak points and I think that today I have proved that I am working on it. I love to compete!”
