In a stunning display of skill and determination, Natalia Kaczmarek secured a silver medal in the 400-meter dash at the World Championships held in Budapest. The only competitor to outpace the 25-year-old on Wednesday evening was the exceptional Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic, who claimed the gold. This marks the second medal for Poland at this ongoing championship.
The date August 23 will undoubtedly be circled in red on the calendars of sports enthusiasts and followers of the Queen of Sports. Kaczmarek had already enjoyed an impressive season, and she further demonstrated her exceptional form in Budapest. The 25-year-old first recorded the best time in the history of eliminations with a time of 50.02. She then repeated this remarkable feat in the history of World Championship semi-finals, clocking in at 49.50 this time.
Czekaliśmy na ten medal 40 lat! Natalia Kaczmarek wicemistrzynią świata w biegu na 400 metrów! pic.twitter.com/l7nBzeYAbB
— TVP SPORT (@sport_tvppl) August 23, 2023
Given her exceptional performance leading up to the finals, expectations were undoubtedly high — a medal was in sight, and perhaps even a Polish record. The latter is associated with the legendary Irena Szewińska, a Polish sports icon who triumphed at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, crossing the finish line in a remarkable 49.28 seconds.
Starting from the sixth lane, Kaczmarek entered the home stretch in fourth or fifth position. However, she conserved her energy wisely and surged past her competitors. Only Paulino posed a challenge she couldn’t overcome, sprinting to a new Dominican Republic record of 48.76 seconds. Kaczmarek crossed the finish line with a time of 49.57 seconds, edging out Sada Williams from Barbados by a mere three-hundredths of a second.
This achievement holds historical significance, as Kaczmarek becomes the first Polish woman to clinch a medal in the 400-meter race at the World Championships. As Budapest continues to be the backdrop for this thrilling event, Kaczmarek still has her sights set on the 4×400 relay, promising more excitement and anticipation for her upcoming performances.