Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Opens Up on Her Quest to Break Florence Griffith-Joyner's World Records

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has officially confirmed her status as one of the greatest rising talents, and she is already targeting Florence Griffith-Joyner's world records.

The Olympic 100m bronze medallist recently became the second woman, just after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, to win triple gold in a World Championship.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden achieved the feat at the just-concluded World Athletics Championships, winning gold in the women’s 100m, 200m and the women’s 4x100m relay.

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She became the fourth-fastest woman in the world after clocking 10.61 seconds to win the women’s 100m final and now believes that the world records are within reach.

The women’s 100m and 200m stand at 10.48 seconds and 21.34 seconds, respectively, and were set by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.

The South Carolina native, in an interview with CNN Sport, revealed that she wants to achieve more. Her winning time of 10.61 seconds was a World Championship record.

The time also marked the largest margin of victory in the event's history, as she crossed the line 0.14 seconds ahead of silver medallist Tina Clayton.

The superb performance leaves her just 0.12 seconds shy of the women’s 100m world record of 10.49 seconds.

"The biggest thing for me if I want to break the world record and become the world record holder, it’s not going to be chasing the time," Melissa Jefferson-Wooden revealed.

"It’s going to be doing very similar to what I did this year, and that is just focusing on me, focusing on my execution, listening to my coaches, and then surrounding myself with people who are going to get me where I need to be."

Toppling a 37-year-old record will be an almighty challenge, but she has welcomed tall orders in the past, proven by her impressive rise from Olympic bronze medalist to World Championship triple crown holder.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden admitted that she prefers being the hunter, enjoying the challenges that come her way. Jefferson-Wooden believes her success stems from her upbringing.

Growing up in Georgetown, South Carolina, and attending a smaller Division I program in college gave her a unique motivation to achieve more than most can imagine.

"Looking at my journey and where I started, people are often confused as to how I got where I was," she said.

"I think that it did nothing but prepare me for the very moment I’m standing in right now... I know that even though now I’m on one of the biggest stages ever, people are starting to see me for who I am, and it’s definitely been something that’s prepared me for it."

As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s hopes of stamping her name firmly in the history books are growing.

Only a handful of women have ever won both a World Championship and an Olympic gold medal, and she has the opportunity to do so on home soil.