We have seen it before, athletes challenging outdated uniform regulations. Who can forget basketball legend Michael Jordan defying uniform requirements? More recently, Tara Davis-Woodhall voiced her frustration over Nike’s controversial Olympic uniform, criticizing its impractical design. She wasn’t alone; a wave of athletes called out the brand for prioritizing aesthetics over functionality. Now, a male gymnast is pushing for changes in his sport’s uniform, and it’s no surprise that Davis-Woodhall is lending her support.

On February 20, Fred Richard, the 2023 U.S. Championships high bar champion, took to Instagram to unveil his plan for changing three pieces of a gymnast’s standard attire: pommel horse pants, unitards, and the traditional tight tank top. “We can make it way looser,” Richard said in his post, emphasizing that functionality should come before outdated traditions. True to his word, Richard stepped onto the Winter Cup stage in a Michigan maize-and-blue basketball-style jersey and shorts, paired with white compression leggings for comfort. He found solidarity from none other than the Olympic champion- Tara Davis-Woodhall.

The Olympic champion showed her support for Richard by resharing his post on her Instagram story and captioning “I love this” on it. Her endorsement instantly recalled her stance against Nike’s controversial women’s uniform. Last year, Nike’s high-cut leotard for female athletes sparked outrage for barely covering the bikini line. When images from the launch event in Paris surfaced, a wave of criticism followed, accusing Nike of sexism in elite sports. Davis-Woodhall didn’t hold back, commenting, “Wait, my hoo haa is gonna be out?”—a reaction that echoed the sentiments of many female athletes.

Nike later clarified that the high-cut leotard would not be mandatory for female runners at the Games, offering nearly 50 alternative styles, including shorts. But the incident left a lasting impact. Now similar to that Fred Richard is on a mission to redefine gymnastics uniforms. For 130 years, male gymnasts have been wearing the same restrictive singlets, horse pants, and tight tanks. But gymnastics isn’t just any sport—clothing choices must consider the risks of fabric getting caught on equipment, which could lead to serious injuries. Richard’s push for a looser, more modern uniform could mark a turning point in gymnastics, where practicality might finally take precedence over outdated tradition.

Tara Davis-Woodhall’s support for Richard’s uniform reform isn’t just about gymnastics. It’s about the broader fight for athlete comfort and performance over aesthetics. With more athletes speaking out, it’s clear that the conversation around uniforms isn’t going away anytime soon. And we like the Texas native’s willingness to speak her mind out– come what may. She also showed this when she clearly stated her position on Michael Johnson.

Tara Davis-Woodhall Takes on Michael Johnson Saying He Cannot Improve the Field Events

When Michael Johnson pitched his 2025 Grand Slam Track event, it seemed like a bold move. His goal was to “save track,” not “track and field.” However, Tara Davis-Woodhall wasn’t having it. As the Olympic long jump queen, she refused to stay silent while field events were being completely sidelined. She called Johnson’s stance wrong and unfair on the Beyond The Records Podcast. The situation escalated when another athlete echoed the same opinion as her.

Rai Benjamin didn’t hold back as well. “It’s that gatekeeping, man,” he said, frustrated by how track and field was being handled. Davis-Woodhall agreed. But before that, she had already made her stance clear—field events do not need someone like Michael Johnson to “save” them. “The sport does not need you,” she stated firmly, accusing Johnson of walking away at a time when he could have made a real impact. She didn’t mince words and was clear. You can’t separate “field” from “track and field” and expects the sport to remain strong. Davis-Woodhall has always been outspoken, and this time was no different—she delivered her message without bias, without filters, and with pure truth.

The 25-year-old’s remarks shed light on a broader issue in athletics—the lack of attention to field events. Her challenge to Michael Johnson underscores the need for inclusivity in how the sport is promoted and structured. While track events often dominate media coverage and sponsorships, field athletes like Davis-Woodhall are determined to ensure their events receive the recognition they deserve. With figures like Benjamin supporting her, the conversation around this imbalance is being further underscored.

Field events are in no way inferior to track events and this Olympic long-jumper is out here to prove that. The Texas native delievered an iconic performance at the Olympics last year– a distance of 7.10m! What’s more, she even dethroned the stellar Malaika Mihambo, who came second at a distance of 6.98m. With such potential in her, she definitely deserves as much praise and attention as do track athletes, and she will ensure that all field athletes get their fair share of respect and admiration.