Tara Davis-Woodhall, after ruling the headlines since the Paris Olympics, has decided to turn the spotlight to something bigger. She has decided to unequivocally call out track and field’s biggest problem. And no, she is not just talking about the physical grind or the tough competition but something that has been eating away at her for a while now. Tara is addressing the woes of track and field by calling out a league that was launched with the claim that it could “save track.” 

The league is none other than the much anticipated Grand Slam Track, launched by track legend Michael Johnson. While the league has received much appreciation, Tara and her husband, Hunter Woodhall, have pointed out a glaring issue with GST. “Michael, you are ruining the sport if you are trying to save just track… it’s track and field for a reason,” said Tara. Hunter backer her up by adding that Johnson was using sensational claims to stay relevant. While it seems like an attack on GST, the issue is much bigger. So what is the crux behind calling out the track legend?

For Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, the issue is much bigger than Michael Johnson’s. It is about the sport’s identity and fair treatment of all its athletes. So what is the issue? Well, Grand Slam Track is all about bringing track sprinters and distance runners into the limelight. So what about field events like Tara’s own long jump getting ignored? And for someone who’s spent years perfecting her craft, that feels like a slap in the face. But GST is not the only issue, there is a bigger issue that Tara has spoken about!

Ahead of LA2028, Tara Davis-Woodhall exposes inconsistencies and struggles to “stay afloat”

Tara’s frustration extends beyond just one track league that has been launched. In a recent interview with SELF magazine, Tara Davis-Woodhall has fearlessly spoke about yet another major gap that affects even established athletes like herself. In the interview, she was questioned about her plans for Los Angeles 2028 aka the upcoming Olympics. Tara’s response? Tara took the opportunity not just to answer the question but to talk about all the events leading up to 2028. And unfortunately, the picture she painted is not a pretty one.

“Well, there’s World Championships before the Olympics, so that’s what the goal is first—to get gold since I have one from the indoor championships but not the outdoor yet,” she said. And this would be the main goal for 2025. However, then she went on to talk about the dreadful year of 2026. So why dreadful? As Tara herself puts it, “2026, it’s an off year for track and field, so there’s no Championships at all.” But that’s not all!

Tara went on to add, “We want to do something for fans to get involved with the track, so it can still be relevant.”  While the train of track and field events continues in 2027 with the World Championships and 2028 with the Olympics, 2026 remains a major gap. And that is precisely why, Tara Davis-Woodhall calls out leagues like GST too. GST is an annual league that promises everything glamour but also callously leaves behind the “field” in track and field! So the question that remains is, what does Tara expect from the world of her sport?

New track leagues bringing visibility to the sport, but what about the athletes?

Well, it is actually quite simple. Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track initiative brings more viewers to the sport and attracts fans and sponsors. However, Tara Davis-Woodhall believes that athletes aren’t receiving the financial benefits they deserve. Despite stepping into a new role as assistant coach at Kansas University, financial stability remains a dream for even established athletes like Tara. But there are sponsorships, right?

Well, yes, of course, there are sponsors. And athletes like Tara, who have secured sponsorships, are in a privileged position. However, she is very aware that the vast majority of field athletes can’t afford to continue competing without financial support. Additionally, as Hunter puts it, “For us specifically, a long jumper and a Paralympian, there’s no money.” This gets rather disheartening when the numbers don’t compare to the millions NBA or NFL players sign on the dotted line for. So, what is the goal here for Tara?

At the end of the day, may it be Noah Lyles in track or Tara Davis-Woodhall in the field, they both have the same goal. To be respected for their sport, achieve pay parity with mainstream sports, and, most importantly, be remembered through the years. And not just once in four years!