Paternain delivers Uruguay’s first world championship medal in marathon

TOKYO: Julia Paternain produced a moment of history on Sunday, claiming Uruguay’s first-ever world championship medal with a bronze in the women’s marathon in Tokyo.

The 25-year-old crossed the line in disbelief, finishing well behind champions Peres Jepchirchir and Tigst Assefa but securing her place on the podium after a gruelling race in suffocating heat. Alone on the track as she approached the finish, Paternain initially looked confused, checking her time and counting off the runners ahead before realising her remarkable achievement.

“I really could not believe it,” said Paternain. “I knew I was top eightish, but I was too scared to look behind me because I didn’t want to get caught.”

Born in Mexico, raised in Britain, and now living in the United States, Paternain has become a national hero for Uruguay with her breakthrough bronze — a performance that will be remembered as a landmark in the country’s athletics history.