Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins historic double at worlds

Field Level Media|published: Fri 19th September, 13:12 2025

Sep 19, 2025; Tokyo, Japan; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) celebrates winning the gold medal in the womens 200m during the World Athletics Championships at National Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden made history at the 2025 World Athletics Championships at Tokyo on Friday, becoming the first American woman to win both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the event.

Jefferson-Wooden, 24, won the 200 on Friday in 21.68 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Her winning time of 10.61 seconds in the 100 on Sunday was the fastest ever at worlds and fourth fastest in history.

A gold medal winner at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in the 4x100-meter relay, Jefferson-Wooden also won bronze in the 100 at the most recent Summer Games.

The last time the same woman swept the 100 and 200 at worlds was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price of Jamaica in 2013.

The last American woman to win the 200 meters at worlds was Allyson Felix in 2009.

"It was very special," Jefferson-Wooden told Olympics.com. "Obviously, coming into the world championships, I knew that there was a high chance for me to be able to complete the double, not really looking at the history stats of it -- like Shelly being the only other woman or me being the first American."

Amy Hunt of Great Britain (22.14 seconds) won the 200 silver and Shericka Jackson of Jamaica (22.18) took the bronze.

American Noah Lyles won the men's 200 on Friday in 19.52 seconds to grab his fourth gold in the event at worlds when he edged fellow American Kenny Bednarek. Bryan Levell of Jamaica was third. Lyles tied Usain Bolt with four 200 world titles.

American Rai Benjamin won the 400-meter hurdles to give the United States 11 gold medals and 17 overall medals at Tokyo.

--Field Level Media