USA Shine in Rain-Soaked Tokyo World Athletics Championships as Jefferson-Wooden, Lyles, and McLaughlin-Levrone Strike Gold

TOKYO — September 22, 2025

The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo concluded with spectacular performances despite heavy rain, as American stars Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Noah Lyles, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone extended their gold medal tallies and closed the event on a high note.

Jefferson-Wooden Creates Sprinting History

Jefferson-Wooden completed a stunning treble, sweeping the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay titles, becoming only the second woman to achieve this feat after Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013.

“This is crazy. I’m going home with three gold medals and my name in the history books again,” Jefferson-Wooden said.

Fraser-Pryce, 38, who ended her decorated career with a silver in the 4x100m relay, symbolically “passed the baton” to the next generation.

Lyles and McLaughlin-Levrone Add Relay Gold

Noah Lyles anchored the U.S. team to victory in the men’s 4x100m relay, adding to his 200m gold, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone led the women’s 4x400m relay team to glory after already winning the 400m title.

“They made it easy for me — I just had to finish the job,” Lyles said, praising his teammates.

Botswana Make History in Men’s 4x400m

In a dramatic upset, Botswana snatched gold in the men’s 4x400m relay, becoming the first African nation to win the event. Led by 400m champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi and Olympic 200m winner Letsile Tebogo, the team edged past America’s Rai Benjamin in the final strides.

“We wanted to make history for Botswana — and we did it,” Kebinatshipi said after the team celebrated with a dance in the rain.

Kenya Dominate Middle and Long Distance

Kenya’s women delivered a clean sweep from 800m to the marathon. Rising star Lilian Odira shocked the field in the 800m, breaking a 42-year-old championship record with a time of 1:54.62, beating Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson.

“This medal is for my sons, aged four and two. They are my motivation,” Odira said.

Other Highlights

• Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh battled hard but had to settle for bronze in the high jump, as Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers took gold.

• Germany’s Leo Neugebauer claimed decathlon gold, outpacing rivals after a personal-best javelin throw of 64.34m.

• In the men’s discus final, Sweden’s Daniel Stahl secured gold with a season-best throw of 70.47m, defeating Lithuanian star Mykolas Alekna and American Alex Rose.

A Memorable Close in Tokyo

Despite weather delays and dramatic finishes, the Tokyo Championships delivered historic moments: Jefferson-Wooden’s sprint dominance, Botswana’s trailblazing relay win, and Odira’s record-breaking run.

The rain-soaked finale ensured that these championships will be remembered not only for world-class performances but also for their resilience, symbolism, and shifting legacies in athletics.