Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden established herself as a top sprinter last season by winning gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. Looking ahead to the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in 2026, she shared her reflections and future goals.
Jefferson-Wooden says her ultimate career goal is to become the fastest woman alive and highlights the 100m hurdles as her favorite event outside of her main sprints. She considers her medals her most valued possessions and recalls her first national title as a key memory.
Off the track, she enjoys quiet nights in and playing games on her days off. She prefers beach destinations for holidays and chooses “Shock da World” by Rod Wave as her pre-competition song.
Jefferson-Wooden also mentioned singing as a hidden talent and named A’ja Wilson as her athlete inspiration. Her favorite meal is the one she has after a win, and Tokyo is her favorite venue.