Tara Davis-Woodhall on raising long jump's profile and sharing stage with Paralympian husband
The 25-year-old Texas native enjoyed the spotlight at the Olympics Paris 2024 where she became the fourth American woman to win an Olympic gold in women’s long jump. She spoke exclusively to Olympics.com on her golden moment, her Paralympian husband Hunter Woodhall and how she wants to defend her title at Los Angeles 2028.
One of the most iconic moments from the track and field at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was Tara Davis-Woodhall’s celebration of her long jump gold medal.
The 25-year-old loves an audience. And when she took the stage with 75,000 fans in attendance at the Stade de France on 8 August, the American star put on a great show.
After dazzling with a gigantic leap of 7.10m for the women’s long jump gold, the Texan fired up the crowd with her exuberance.
Flashing her symbolic smile to the crowd, she cheerfully fell backward into the sandpit to savour the full glory of that joyous Thursday evening.
She then rushed into the arms of her Paralympian husband, Hunter Woodhall, with the track and field power couple displaying their adorable love**.**
Sporting her trademark cowboy hat and with the American flag draped around her, the moment encapsulated her flair for showmanship and the culmination of a long-held dream.
“My entire life goal was to change the sport of long jump and get eyes on long jump,” she said during an interview with Olympics.com in the days afterward.
“And I had the entire stadium watch the long jump for just a split second. And it means more than anything. And I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to show what long jump is capable of and to show that field matter for sure.”
Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall: An Olympic and Paralympic power couple cheering each other on
After finishing in sixth place at Tokyo 2020, Davis-Woodhall arrived in Paris ready to hog the headlines - cheered on by her team behind her.
“It's been my life's goal, to be an Olympic gold medallist.
“My support team - husband, my doctor and my coach…They told me I got it before I even set foot on the track.”
Despite her success coming on a glorious night for USA track and field – with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dashing to a world record in the women's 400m hurdles and Grant Holloway finally clinching the men's 110m hurdles Olympic gold – much attention was on the Woodhalls.
It’s like the jumper had rehearsed how she was going to use the spotlight once it was thrust upon her. Her catchy energetic reaction with her husband Hunter, a three-time Paralympic medallist sprinter, was “everything”, she said.
“We are two peas in a pod. We are connected at the hip at all times. Hugging him and getting into his arms was everything to me,” said Davis-Woodhall, who also recently joined Kansas State University as an assistant coach for their track program.
“We train every single day together, and he's seen all the hard work that I've done, and I see all the hard work that he's done. I just can't wait to be back here (in Paris) in two weeks and cheer them on for the Paralympics.”
Tara Davis-Woodhall: 'You matter and everything, everything, exists for you'
Davis-Woodhall's path to Paris 2024 Olympics gold was paved by being “unapologetically herself”: the two-time Olympian has been open about her mental health struggles as a pro athlete.
So, her unrestrained revelry and joy at the Olympic title after twice clearing seven metres in that final, was in every sense symbolic. It marked the return of an athlete living up to her billing as 'the next great long jumper'.
“Every jump was different. Every jump had a different meaning. The fourth jump, when I was going down the runway, I told myself, ‘This is it!’," she recalled of her winning attempt after posting 6.93m in her first, then a 7.05m, and landing 6.95 with her third attempt.
“Winning gold at the Olympics, the pinnacle of sport…means everything. Because I share everything on my social media, and everyone knows what I've gone through. So you can do anything that you put your mind to, and that's all that matters.
"And, for all the women and girls out there, even the boys, we can do it! You can do it! You matter and everything, everything, exists for you. And your mind is so much stronger than you ever think'.” —Tara Davis Woodhall to Olympics.com
Tara Davis-Woodhall on Beyoncé and LA 2028
A self-confessed performer, Davis-Woodhall was also ecstatic to have apparently inspired one of Beyoncé’s looks.
The music mega star performed a rendition of her Cowboy Carter hit while introducing Team USA during NBC's TV coverage of the Opening Ceremony dressed in a cowboy hat and boots – which the jumper typically wears before and after her events.
“Oh, it's so cool… Beyoncé take some notes from what I do. I mean…she's an icon. She's a legend, and I freaking inspired her, I guess.”
With a gold already under her belt, Davis-Woodhall is excited about jumping at a home Olympics at Los Angeles 2028.
**"**I was raised in L.A. from [ages] 11 to 20. I want that, I want it. I want my friends there.
"That's home. And I think that one's meant to be for sure."