839. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, 3-Time World Championship Gold Medalist

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"I do want to be the greatest to ever do it in our sport. And I mean that wholeheartedly. I genuinely feel like it's something that I can do, and something I've been called to do. In due time it is going to happen. But it is going to start with me taking it one day, one practice, one meet at a time."

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has had the year of her dreams. At this year's World Championships in Tokyo, Melissa became the first American in history to win triple gold, winning the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. She became the first American woman since Allyson Felix in 2009 to win the 200m at World Championships, and became the first American woman in history to win the 100/200 double at World Championships. Melissa went undefeated in the 100m this entire season, winning Diamond Leagues, Grand Slam Track meets, and, of course, World Champs. Last year, Melissa made her Olympic debut in Paris, where she won bronze in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay. In this conversation, Melissa talks about what life is like for the fastest woman in the world.

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In this episode:

Melissa's honeymoon plans, and how she's feeling after a banner season on the track (2:30)
What it was like being on The Jennifer Hudson Show (5:25)
What's making Melissa happy today (10:20)
What's going through Melissa's head when she's in the blocks (13:00)
Melissa's mantra: One Day, One Practice, One Meet at a Time (14:50)
All about Melissa's "hero's welcome" after flying home from Tokyo (21:15)
Melissa's take on track fashion (23:45)
On running as a team sport (29:00)
Melissa recaps her 100m experience at World Championships (36:00)
How Melissa feels about being a reigning World Champion (41:30)
All about the 200m Final, including the false start that kicked it off (43:40)
Melissa's relationship with Allyson Felix (51:15)
Melissa reflects on her "introductory year," and reflects on her early Olympic dreams (56:50)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk
0:08.9	with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. From professional athletes and
0:14.1	celebrity runners to the everyday, amateur, and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate
0:18.9	everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the
0:21.9	run. Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you
0:26.3	back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. My guest today is Melissa
0:31.3	Jefferson Wooden, three-time World Championships gold medalist Melissa Jefferson Wooden. This summer in Tokyo, Melissa
0:39.6	won gold for Team USA in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, and the 4x100 meter relay. She became
0:46.6	the first American to win triple gold at the same world championships. She became the first
0:51.8	American woman in history to win the 100, 200 double at world championships. And she became the first American woman in history to win the 100-200 double at world championships,
0:57.1	and she became the first American woman since Alice and Felix in 2009 to win the 200 at the world championships.
1:05.0	Melissa went undefeated in the 100 meters this season, and last year she made her Olympic debut in Paris,
1:12.4	where she won bronze in the 100 meters and gold in the 4x100 relay. Her list of accolades is long, and Melissa is just 24 years old.
1:21.9	This conversation was an absolute delight. Melissa is enjoying some postseason downtime, and after
1:26.9	getting married earlier this
1:28.2	year, she and her husband are finally getting to go on their honeymoon. We talk about it all.
1:33.5	Loved this conversation. Please welcome the fastest woman in the world, Melissa Jefferson Wooden,
1:38.9	to the Allie on the Run Show. show.
1:57.4	All right, by very popular request, my friends, we have Melissa Jefferson Wooden here with us today.
1:58.2	Melissa, what a year you have had. I don't know how you are making the time to
2:02.7	be here with me. Thank you so much for being here. Welcome to the Allie on the Run Show. How you
2:07.3	doing today? I'm doing good. Thank you for having me. And to your question about how I made time to be
	...

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