Christopher Melenciano makes history: Double world record for the Dominican sprinter
Dominican athletics is celebrating thanks to the feat of Christopher Melenciano, who has established himself as the fastest man in the world in the deaf category. During his participation in the 23rd Japanese Athletics Championships, the sprinter not only climbed to the top of the podium but also shattered world records in the premier speed events.
In the 200-meter dash, Melenciano stopped the clock at 20.43 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 20.60 held by the British athlete Eric Gregory since May 2022. This feat was achieved at the Heiwado HATO Stadium, a venue that witnessed the absolute dominance of the local athlete.
A historic double in Japan
Melenciano’s feat began a day earlier, when he left his mark in the 100-meter dash by recording a time of 10.17 seconds. With this result, the Dominican left behind the 10.21-second record that American Wendell Gaskin Jr. had held since 1996. With this pair of performances, Melenciano now holds the world records in both distances, a milestone that marks a turning point in his sports career.
With these records, Christopher Melenciano positions himself as the absolute holder of the world records in the 100 and 200 meters for deaf athletes, consolidating a historic double for national sports.
Rising trajectory
Beyond this achievement on Japanese soil, Melenciano continues to demonstrate his versatility and competitive level. Recently, the sprinter was part of the Dominican delegation at the 2026 Santo Domingo Central American and Caribbean Games, where he stood out as part of the 4×400 meter mixed relay, sharing the track with figures of the stature of Marileidy Paulino, Anabel Medina, and Erick Sánchez.
This golden chapter in Melenciano’s career reaffirms his position as one of the country’s most outstanding athletes, carrying the Dominican flag to the highest level in the most demanding international competitions.
