Drama continued on Day 2 of the World Championships as the 25-year-old stunned the athletics world, clinching Uruguay’s first-ever medal. Crossing the line third in the women’s marathon on Sunday in Tokyo, Julia Paternain, who switched allegiances from Great Britain to Uruguay this January, could barely believe her feat. Battling the suffocating heat (28°C) and against all odds as the world’s 288th-ranked marathoner, she held off the competition to secure bronze. Biting her medal in disbelief, Paternain shared the moving story of her family, turning her shock victory into a historic moment for her nation.

At one point, Paternain found herself in a tough spot, not even in the top six, while American Susanna Sullivan led the pack with Sutume Asefa Kebede close behind. But in a dramatic twist during the final lap, the 25-year-old surged forward, finishing with an impressive 2:27:23. Crossing the line, she could hardly believe she had secured a medal for her country. Speaking to the media afterward, a joyful yet emotional Paternain shared heartfelt stories about her family.

“I was born in Mexico. My whole family is from Uruguay. I have a very small family—there’s like 11 of us. Everyone still lives in Uruguay, except for me, my mom, and my dad. I moved to England when I was two and grew up there. I ran for Great Britain when I was, I think, 18 or so. I competed at the European Under-23s. Then I got recruited to run in the NCAA. I was never an All-American, but I made it to NCAAs outdoors my freshman year,” said Paternain.

She further added, “From then on, my career was a little bit of a mess. I ran at Penn State for two years during COVID, then transferred to the University of Arkansas, where I ran for three years. After that, I moved to California for a year and took a little break while trying to figure out what I wanted to do with running. I didn’t have a coach or anything, I just did my own thing while working a job.” 

With a blazing performance, the 25-year-old previously shattered the Uruguayan women’s marathon record, slicing more than 21 minutes off Valeria Silvera’s 2:48:43. Remarkably, this was only Paternain’s second marathon. She began her journey in the 42.195 km distance earlier this year, making a striking debut at the McKirdy Micro Road to Tokyo race in Valley Cottage, U.S., where she announced herself as a record-breaker, 2:27:09.

Born in Mexico, with roots in Uruguay, she spent her childhood in Britain, eventually settled in the U.S., and now represents Uruguay. Her life has come full circle, so what was her reaction after winning the bronze? Let’s find out.

“I really could not believe it,” said Julia Paternain as she celebrated her bronze

After crossing the finish line, the 25-year-old athlete froze in disbelief, but the moment of realization quickly dawned, and she triumphantly raised three fingers, claiming the bronze medal for her country, “I really could not believe it, I had no idea where I was, I knew I was top eightish, I was too scared to look behind me because I didn’t want to get caught,” said the Mexican-born, British-raised, American resident.

She further added, “At the end of a marathon, you’re tired, your brain is not working properly, I just wanted to make sure that truly was the finish. So, a little bit of confusion, but I’m just extremely grateful and honestly just in shock.” Paternain’s debut at the senior championships left everyone in awe. In a breathtaking upset, she surged across the finish line, gripping her Uruguay jersey with a mix of disbelief and pride.

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As she crossed the finish line with the bronze, expectations for her soared to astronomical levels. Will she continue to perform even better in the future? Only time will tell. What are your thoughts about the athlete?