Dominican athlete Marileidy Paulino won the 400m gold medal at the World Athletics Championships just held in Budapest.

The new world champion made a time of 48.76 seconds to become the first Dominican woman to win in that category.

Paulino comes from a very humble family, but with a deep Christian faith. She started competing in athletics to help support her family.

At the beginning she did not even have the money to buy shoes, so she first ran barefoot and then with borrowed shoes. Today she still maintains that humility and only asks that her travel expenses be covered, as well as her coach and physiotherapist.

On her Instagram page she has posted a mosaic of photographs of her holding a Bible, with the scripture  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Paulino never ceases to bear witness to her faith in Jesus.

After winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, she raised the Dominican flag and her Bible. On one of her shoes she wrote: “God is my hope, amen”.

An athlete with international projection

At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Paulino also won another silver medal in the mixed 4X400m relay, becoming the first Dominican athlete to win two medals at the same Olympic Games.

Her success at this year's World Athletics Championships in Budapest confirms her international projection for future competitions. “Thanks to God for everything, whether I lose or win, whether I come first or last, I am always grateful to God”, she recently pointed out on social media.

Marileidy to President Abinader: “May God continue to guide and help you”

The sprinter has publicly thanked the president of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader for his support after winning the medal.

“Thank you very much President Luis Abinader, may God continue to guide and help you as he has always done with Dominican sport” said Paulino on Twitter.

Prior to Marileidy's response, the head of state had congratulated her through the social media for winning the medal: “Congratulations, Marileidy Paulino! Your gold medal in the 400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, with an impressive time of 48.76 seconds, fills the whole nation with pride”.