“I’ll put 10k on Sha’Carri. Yeah, I’m betting Tara’s money on Sha’Carri.”  That was Hunter Woodhall, Paralympic gold medalist and husband of long jump star Tara Davis-Woodhall, backing the world’s fastest woman with a playful grin. In the background, Tara burst into her signature wide smile—no words needed, just pure support. The moment? A viral clip where IShowSpeed, the internet’s most unpredictable influencer, challenged Sha’Carri Richardson to a race. Sha’Carri’s response? Game on—but on her terms. And unlike many in the cutthroat world of professional athletics, Tara didn’t see a competitor—she saw a queen worth backing. That’s rare. And it wasn’t the first time! Nor is she the only one!

Scroll back to March, when Tara posted one of her trademark photo dumps—snapshots of her life away from the track. Her caption? Simple: “just another photo dump…” But buried in the comments was a message from none other than Gabby Thomas: “you’re such a vibeee 💕.” Here were two Olympic Champions—two faces of the sport—cheering each other on. This is Tara’s quiet legacy: lifting others as she soars. From publicly hyping Sha’Carri in viral moments to swapping love with Gabby in the comments section, Tara is proving that there’s power in unity. On April 29, during a fan meet hosted by Athlos and Alexis Ohanian, Tara once again did that.

Well, with the announcement that women’s long jump will be featured at Athlos NYC 2025, Tara will be one of the top names. But when Ohanian asked her, “Have you seen other folks in the sport that you want to give flowers to as well?“ Tara didn’t hesitate even for a bit as seen in the Instagram reel posted by Athlos today. “Gabby Thomas. Do you all know Gabby Thomas? Sha’Carri Richardson is doing the same thing, and I mean, these women are the stars of our sport.” Boom. Tara isn’t ready to take all the credit. Instead, she brought in two names. 

Two names. Two very different styles. But both are undeniably magnetic forces in the sport. Gabby Thomas, the Harvard-educated sprint star with Olympic medals and a fashion-forward edge, brings brilliance both on and off the track. Sha’Carri Richardson, meanwhile, is unapologetic, lightning-fast, and endlessly captivating—her presence alone ignites debates, headlines, and stadium roars. In Paris, both sprinters penned their names in golden colors. Gabby did it in the women’s individual event, and relay events, and Sha’Carri brought it in the women’s relay race. Also, Tara mentioned one more name.

Well, she further added, “Messiah Russell, going insane on there.” Yes, the young track and field talent is etching her name in history. She not only won gold in 100 mH in Paris, but this year she has had a phenomenal season opener. She has registered her personal best in the 60m this year at her season opener run at the Corky Classic on January 17.

And Tara’s shoutout….well, it matters. It’s more than admiration—it’s a passing of the torch, a recognition of who’s driving the sport forward. And in an era where visibility and personality matter just as much as performance, Gabby and Sha’Carri are more than just athletes. They’re icons. And also, speaking about the icons, Tara is making her place there. Check Athlos’ move around her. 

Tara Davis-Woodhall gains Alexis Ohanian’s praise and Athlos’ stage 

In Miami, at the recent fan event, Alexis Ohanian couldn’t help but sing her praises—again. He was talking about Tara Davis-Woodhall, of course. The Olympic long jumper who’s become as much a spectacle as she is a superstar. But this wasn’t the first time Ohanian had been wowed.

Go back 10 months. The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Ohanian—best known as the co-founder of Reddit and husband of Serena Williams—was attending his first athletic event as a regular spectator. There, in the heat of competition, he watched Tara Davis-Woodhall soar—literally. “She’s such a show woman, show person,” he said at the time, visibly charged up. “And she’s… she’s so dynamic. The crowd is energized, they’re so excited.”

Fast forward to now, and it’s no coincidence that Tara’s event—the women’s long jump—has officially landed in the fixture for Athlos NYC 2025. A competition dedicated to spotlighting the best women in track and field, and finally, the field is getting its due. Why now? Part of the answer is Tara herself.

“Field has historically been… under-invested in,” Ohanian admitted during their conversation. “And you don’t have the major networks. You don’t have-outside of the Olympics, your face, your story being told. So you tell it yourself.” And no one’s done that quite like Tara Davis-Woodhall. Through every laugh, every post, every behind-the-scenes moment, she’s built more than a fanbase—she’s built a movement. As Ohanian pointed out, “Because you’ve been so good at exercising that muscle, you have this… advantage.” Tara isn’t just winning medals—she’s winning hearts. And in a sport where most field athletes are still fighting for airtime, she’s already taken center stage.