Melissa Jefferson-Wooden embarked on a historical journey when she entered the Japan National Stadium for the 2025 World Athletics Championships. First, she broke the championship record in the 100m to become the fastest American woman alive, then she stormed to another victory in the 200m dash. But as the fans in the stadium settled again, Jefferson-Wooden burst out on the track to help the American women’s relay (4x100m) team clinch a gold. For the 24-year-old, all it took was an optimistic mindset in order to stand atop the podium in Tokyo.

On October 3, Jefferson-Wooden joined American singer and actress Jennifer Hudson on her talk show, and shared various nooks and crannies of her triumph in Tokyo. Donning her medals proudly in the studio, the 24-year-old looked elated. And, when she was asked about her winning mindset, the South Carolina native avidly confessed, “When I get to the line, you know, I always tell myself before, or once the starter says ‘On your marks’, I’m just like, ‘Here we go.’” But things were a bit different this year. 

Jefferson-Wooden continued, “And this year, what I did was I just told myself like, ‘You know, you’ve lined up with all these amazing ladies many times before, and the outcome wasn’t necessarily what I wanted.’” Her mindset was the same throughout the season, not just at the World Championships. Every time she stepped onto the track, she was like, “If they beat you before, they won’t get you again.” And that’s the mentality she took with her to the finish lines. 

The 2025 Tokyo World Championships marked the first event that witnessed Jefferson-Wooden running the 200m race. The 24-year-old American revealed that she couldn’t really build up the strength that she needed to run the 200m distance at the Paris Olympics. And it was all because of her Achilles’ rupture during the 2024 Olympic trials. But making the 100m team was a “pat on the back” for her. She claimed that even though she wasn’t in the 200m team physically, she had enough willpower to go out there and do the things that she wanted to do. Well, Jefferson-Wooden had to stir things up if she wanted to run the 200m dash. 

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had a meeting with her coaches and told them that she’d like to train for the 200m dash a bit more seriously. And that’s what she did. It was this mindset that brought her to the top of the podium, not once, not twice, but in three different races. Yet, there was a hint of regret in her voice after the races. 

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had one regret despite winning three golds in Tokyo

During a conversation with Shannon Sharpe back in September 2025, Jefferson-Wooden weighed in on her 100m record at the Tokyo World Championships. She clocked 10.61 seconds, the fourth fastest time in women’s 100m dash. She’s only behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Florence Griffith Joyner. During the 1988 US Olympic Trials, Joyner set the world record for fastest 100m run at 10.49 seconds. And when Sharpe touched that spot, the current world champion couldn’t help but express her disappointment. 

She claimed that she could have gone sub-10.6 seconds if she had more favorable conditions, like a +1.5 m/s tailwind. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stated, “It was the fastest I’ve ever ran, but I look at the race and I still see areas where I could have improved on. Like I probably could have been a tad bit more explosive coming out the blocks…” 

Well, the 24-year-old double sprint champion has already proven her strength at the Tokyo World Championships. However, despite her historic milestones this season, the 24-year-old has bigger aspirations, and she wants to extend her dominance with the goal of breaking the late Florece Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing 100m world record. And, Jefferson-Wooden is ready to embrace that challenge.