“I have to put something out so far that no one can touch it. And that’s what I’m doing now,” says Tara Davis-Woodhall. The American long-jumper is determined to overcome a lingering injury as she aims for gold at the Paris Olympics. Despite a strong showing at the World Championships, where she took second place, Davis-Woodhall remains unsatisfied and pushes herself to new heights. Her drive and focus make it clear she’s not leaving anything to chance in her quest for Olympic glory.

Team USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall (

She described the injury as occurring at the NYC Grand Prix before the Trials. “It was the worst pain I think I’ve ever been through,” she admitted. “I was scared, thinking, ‘Is this gonna heal before the Trials? No. Is it gonna heal before the Olympics? No.’ I’m still dealing with it, but we live and we learn and we’re just gonna go out here and do what we can do.” Reflecting on the difference between her experiences in Paris and Tokyo, Davis-Woodhall said, “I did not expect to be in Tokyo. I was a college kid out there just jumping for fun. I’m still jumping for fun, but now I’m jumping for a reason. I wanted to make the Olympics, and now I’m here.”

Three months before the Games, Tara Davis-Woodhall spoke with Olympics.com in New York about the changes she’s experienced since Tokyo 2020. The pandemic overshadowed Tokyo, leaving athletes without crowds, limited interaction, and separated from loved ones. Davis-Woodhall’s husband, Paralympian Hunter, wasn’t even in the country. Today, everything is different. “I do feel more joy now than I did in [the lead-up to] Tokyo,” Davis-Woodhall said. “Now, I’m living with my husband in Arkansas, and we just enjoy life to the fullest.”

The shift from Tokyo to now is stark. With the world returning to post-pandemic normalcy and Davis-Woodhall marrying in 2022, her career saw a major moment in 2023 when she won silver at the World Championships in Budapest. “I know how I felt getting second place,” she admitted in a YouTube video. “I was training hard, but I didn’t give it 100% my best effort.” As Paris approaches, Davis-Woodhall is pushing her limits more than ever. 

She and her husband have become a powerful team. With “sacrifice” tattooed on her torso, she reflects on its meaning: “It was one of the first words I actually learned through track and field of what it means to become an athlete.” With the Olympics on her way, Davis-Woodhall sees a clear contrast from Tokyo. “It pays off,” she ends. Davis-Woodhall explained that sacrificing doesn’t mean giving up your entire life. Instead, it involves giving up certain things here and there to be the best you can be. 

Tara Davis-Woodhall: Building on past achievements and gearing up for Paris 2024

Tara Davis-Woodhall’s journey to the Paris Olympics is built on a foundation of impressive achievements. In high school, she broke the American junior record for the indoor long jump with a leap of 6.68 meters (21 ft 10¾ in) and set the high school national record in the 100-meter hurdles. She shattered the world under-20 record in the 70-meter hurdles at the University of Georgia. Away from the track, Tara has built a large following on social media, where fans adore her trademark cowboy hat style. She is known as “America’s Cowgirl” on Instagram and has over a million followers.

At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Tara faced a nerve-wracking moment. She scratched her first two jumps in the women’s long jump final, leaving her with one last attempt to secure three more jumps. Her third jump of 6.64m earned her fifth place and three more chances. She soared to 7.00m (22 feet, 11 inches), surpassing early leader Jasmine Moore, who finished second. This performance secured her spot in Paris. “It was honestly one of the scariest moments of my career,” she told reporters. “I did not let that get to my head. I had to stay focused and present.”

Tara heads to Paris with a personal best of 7.17 meters, achieved in Albuquerque in May 2024. She previously competed at Tokyo 2020, finishing sixth in the final, and won a silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Despite her success, she remains hungry for gold. “I know how I felt getting second place,” she said on her YouTube channel. “I was so close and it took one jump for someone to take it away from me.” With her impressive track record and determination, Tara Davis-Woodhall is poised to shine at the Paris Olympics. Let’s see how she performs on the grand stage.