Tara Davis-Woodhall gained tons of attention during the 2024 Olympic Summer Games after having a memorable celebration with her paralympian husband Hunter Woodhall caught on camera.
The couple’s love doesn’t overshadow the reason for the sweet moment, though. Davis-Woodhall won gold in the women’s long jump for her 7.10-meter jump. This win allowed her to become the new Olympic champion, succeeding Malaika Mihambo. Receiving her first Olympic gold medal, she also became the fourth American woman to win a gold medal for the women’s long jump.
“You’re the Olympic champion,” Woodhall screamed as he embraced his now gold medalist wife.
Davis-Woodhall began running at four years old and was destined to run track and field as her father was once a track and field athlete, as well. Originally from Agoura Hills, California, she attended Agoura High School, which is where she first participated in track and field.
During her high school years, Davis-Woodhall broke her school’s indoor long jump record in 2017. That same year, she won three gold medals at the CIF California State Meet, where she also set the record time of 12.83 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. She was also named Ventura County’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2017.
Davis-Woodhall continued participating in track and field at the University of Georgia, but then transferred to the University of Texas. However, due to the transfer, she was unable to compete in the track season her sophomore year.
“I am currently not allowed to compete this track season. I need your support as I appeal University of Georgia and coach Petros’ decision not to release me to run for any other NCAA university this 2018-2019 season,” Davis Woodhall captioned the video she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
During her junior year, after successfully transferring to the University of Texas Though the outdoor season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she still performed indoors. In 2021, which was her senior year, Davis-Woodhall set the collegiate record when she jumped 7.14 meters.
However, just because she transferred doesn’t mean she was any happier.
“Mentally I was in a dark place,” Davis-Woodhall stated at a New York media roundtable.
She struggled to connect with her team and the new city, overall. She even would have trouble getting out of bed, but nonetheless, she powered through.
Through her perseverance, Davis-Woodhall has now become a national and world champion. She is the current reigning World Indoor Champion in the long jump, jumping for 7.07 meters. She also won a silver medal in the women’s long jump in the World Athletics Championships, in 2023. In 2023, at the USA Track and Field Championships, she won the long jump title for her 6.99-meter jump.
In terms of the Olympics, the Paris Summer Games weren’t her first, and they will certainly not be her last. Davis-Woodhall competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, where she placed sixth in the women’s long jump. Being only 25 years old, Davis-Woodhall would be able to compete in a couple more Summer Games.
“You can do it! You matter, and your mind is so much stronger than you ever think” Davis-Woodhall told Olympics.com
Beyond her professional athletic career, Davis-Woodhall was made an assistant coach at Kansas State University for their track and field program.
“I’m thrilled to have Tara joining us at K-State. To say that she brings the energy is an understatement,” head coach Travis Geopfert said.
Davis-Woodhall also has a successful YouTube channel with her husband called Tara and Hunter. On the channel, they post vlogs, storytimes, training sessions and answer questions about life post-olympics.
“Everything, everything exists for you” Davis-Woodhall said to Olympics.com.
Despite all the success that Davis-Woodall has achieved, she has had to work for it and find it. And throughout her high school, college and professional career, she has done exactly so.
