Salwa Eid Naser vs Marileidy Paulino: Can the Olympic champion be dethroned?

Naser and Paulino face off in a high-stakes 400m final, with rising stars eager to challenge the favorites.

Olympics 400m champion Marileidy Paulino and silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser will go head-to-head in a much-anticipated showdown at the Brussels Diamond League Final.

With a star-studded lineup that includes the world’s fastest women this 400m race promises to be one of the most electrifying events of the season.

Leading the pack is Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser, who set the track ablaze with her stunning 48.14-second victory at the 2019 World Championships.

Naser, known for her explosive speed and remarkable ability to finish strong, comes into the final with a season-best of 48.53 seconds, making her the fastest woman in the field.

After returning from a two-year ban, Naser has been working hard to reclaim her dominance in the 400m. Her blistering pace over the final stretch makes her the woman to beat, and the competition knows it.

One of her biggest threats is the in-form Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic.

The Olympic champion has been a dominant force this season, and her personal best of 48.17 seconds is just fractions away from Naser’s lifetime best.

Paulino’s tactical prowess and powerful running style give her an edge in controlling the race, and she has been a regular fixture atop the podiums in the Diamond League series. With consistency on her side, Paulino will be determined to finish the season on a high and stamp her authority as the queen of the 400m.

But this is not just a two-woman race. Ireland’s rising star, Rhasidat Adeleke, has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in the 400m this year.

At just 21 years old, Adeleke has been consistently improving, matching her personal and season-best of 49.07 seconds. Her ability to challenge the more experienced sprinters makes her a serious contender in this final.

A strong finish in Brussels would cap off a remarkable breakthrough season for the young Irish athlete, positioning her as one of the sport's future stars.

The United States has two formidable athletes in Alexis Holmes and Lynna Irby-Jackson, both of whom are poised to push for a top spot.

Holmes, who has had a steady season with a personal best of 49.77, will be looking to make her mark in what is expected to be a high-paced race.

Irby-Jackson, who boasts a personal best of 49.80, has struggled to match that speed this season with a best of 50.17, but her experience and competitive spirit could see her rise to the occasion when it counts the most.

The competition does not end there as European hopeful Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands and Caribbean sprinter Sada Williams from Barbados are also in the mix.

Klaver, with a season-best of 49.58, has had a solid year and will be pushing to dip under the 49-second barrier.

Williams, with a best of 49.80 this season, is another dark horse in this fiercely competitive field. A fast start could put either athlete in contention for a podium finish.

Rounding out the finalists is France’s Amandine Brossier, who has clocked a personal best of 50.43 this season.

While Brossier might not be among the top favorites, the high-stakes atmosphere of a Diamond League final could spur her to a lifetime best.

The ultimate sprint, often described as a test of both speed and endurance, will come down to who can execute the perfect race plan and hold their nerve in the final 100 meters.

Will Naser’s raw speed secure her another title, or will Paulino’s metronomic consistency prove too strong? Can Adeleke spring a surprise and upset the favorites? All eyes will be on Brussels, where the best in the world will battle for 400m supremacy.