Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Claims Historic Sprint Double at 2025 World Athletics Championships

Tokyo, Japan – American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has made history at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, securing gold medals in both the women's 100m and 200m races. This remarkable achievement marks her as the first woman since Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013 to win both sprint titles at the same World Championships. Furthermore, she is the first American woman to clinch the 200m title since Allyson Felix in 2009, cementing her status as a dominant force in global athletics.

The 24-year-old athlete showcased exceptional form throughout the championships. She first captured the 100m gold with a championship record time of 10.61 seconds, placing her fourth on the world all-time list. Her commanding performance continued in the 200m final, where she clocked a world-leading 21.68 seconds, moving her into eighth place on the world all-time list.

Jefferson-Wooden's double victory highlights a significant moment in her career, building on her 100m bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. "Being the first American to win the women's 200m at a World Championships since Allyson Felix means a lot. I looked up to her so much growing up," Jefferson-Wooden stated, acknowledging the significance of her accomplishment. She expressed gratitude, adding, "It's amazing to be able to hear these statistics – they just make me feel blessed and grateful for the position I am in now."

The path to her 200m gold saw her outperform a strong field, with Great Britain's Amy Hunt taking silver and two-time defending world champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica securing bronze. Notably, Olympic gold and silver medalists Gabby Thomas and Julien Alfred were absent from the 200m final due to injuries. Jefferson-Wooden now eyes a potential third gold medal in the 4x100m relay, aiming to complete a historic sprint treble.