Olympic Champion Tara Davis-Woodhall’s Bold Take Fails as Track and Field Community Still Divided

Tara Davis-Woodhall, who stole the show at the Paris Olympics with grace and prowess, has never been one to mince words. Known for her fierce advocacy and unrelenting passion for her craft, Tara recently turned her spotlight onto what she perceives as the biggest threat to her sport. The Olympian has been vocal about the sidelining of field events. And more so in light of the Grand Slam Track (GST) league, spearheaded by track legend Michael Johnson. But is her frustration unwarranted?

Recent developments suggest otherwise. Jamaican triple jumper Jordan Scott shattered records with a stunning leap of 17.14m at the Penn Select meet on January 12, 2025. The achievement not only marked a world lead and personal best but also elevated him to fifth on Jamaica’s all-time list. Yet, the applause was startlingly muted. Reflecting on the same, one track enthusiast from their X handle @TheErinBrown bluntly remarked, “And no one in the crowd cared. Get rid of field events at track meets… and good jump unc.”

Unfortunately, the sentiment painfully aligned with Tara Davis-Woodhall’s critique of the GST. While the league has been lauded for its promise to “save track,” Tara has pointed out its glaring exclusion of field events, accusing Johnson of eroding the essence of track and field. The divide between the disciplines feels more pronounced than ever, and moments like Scott’s underappreciated triumph only amplify her concerns.

For the uninitiated, the Grand Slam Track league, launched with much fanfare, has focused primarily on sprinters and distance runners. Financial backing poured in, and the league appeared to be a game-changer. However, its focus has left athletes in field events feeling overlooked. “Michael, you’re ruining the sport if you’re trying to ‘save’ just track… it’s track and field for a reason,” Davis-Woodhall asserted.

Hunter Woodhall, Tara’s husband and Paralympic champion, echoed her sentiments. He, too, accused Johnson of making sensational statements to stay relevant. The couple’s critique did not just remain as a opinion. Rather, it’s a broader indictment of the sport’s shifting priorities. For athletes like Tara and Jordan Scott, whose careers demand relentless dedication, the lack of recognition stings deeply. 

Meanwhile, the Woodhall couple believe the solution lies in reimagining how track and field events are presented. During his conversation with Rai Benjamin and Noah Lyles in ‘Beyond the Records’ podcast, Hunter emphasized the importance of packaging track and field events as entertainment, comparing the current state of the sport to other globally successful competitions. “It’s not about changing the sport itself,” he stated. “It’s about changing how it’s presented. People don’t understand how insane these performances are because it’s not marketed the right way.” Tara chimed in, “The product is there. The athletes are there. The passion is there. What’s missing is the delivery.”

The pair further highlighted the need for unity between track and field athletes. Hunter pointed out that, unlike team sports, track and field often lacks a collective identity. “You don’t see sprinters hyping up jumpers or throwers hyping up distance runners,” he said. “We need to show the world that we’re all in this together.” Tara agreed, adding, “If we can get fans to understand that every event matters, we’ll see the sport grow. But first, we need to show them we believe it too.” Such a concerning debate has also made fans share their two cents on the same on social media.

Netizens shared their varied opinion as Tara Davis-Woodhall’s concerns 

Amid this ongoing discussion and debacle, one netizen does not seem to echo the thoughts of Tara Davis-Woodhall and several concerned fans. Their take on the matter lies in the fact that financial aspects differ for every sport. More so, it depends upon the revenue generated from the sports. Taking a blunt take on the concerned track enthusiast, the X user mentioned how they feel that ‘track and field’ is a wrong sport. The comment read, “If you’re elite at any jumping event you chose the wrong sport, should’ve applied that athleticism to a sport that pays well”.

Another user had a bold statement to make. While Tara advocates for field events’ significance and their contribution to the sport’s identity, critics like this fan suggest eliminating them altogether, claiming they disrupt the pacing of sprint races and distance events. The user shared their personal opinion, writing, “He’s right! Kill the field events. The downtime between sprint races is more interesting, with nothing going on. Also, there’s nothing better than the first half of a slow tactical 5k! Eliminate the field event distractions and the sport will flourish. Because it’s DYING!!!!!!!!!” This reflects a divisive perspective within track and field. The fan argued that field events detract from the sport’s appeal.

Another concerned track enthusiast commented, “You really think THIS is the approach to handling lack of interest in field events? Simply do away with it? 🤔 How about clear the in field & give these athletes the spot light they deserve for a change. Perhaps spotlighting good performances, rather than click farming works.” This aligns with the broader conversation led by Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, who emphasize the undervaluation of field events. 

While the post claimed that field events do not get the limelight and appreciation they deserve, one fan had a different opinion to share. They mentioned, “True T&F enthusiasts care.” On the other hand, another X user took a dig at the user who raised this concern over field event on social media and added how they feel it is ‘out of context’. Justifying their take, the fan asserted, “This was at a week one college meet that only allowed a few teams in a facility that barely has any stands for spectators— so you’re taking this out of context. I’ve seen sprinters run world leads in similar environments and you get the same response from the crowd 🤷‍♀️”.

Amid this ongoing controversy, Scott’s performance at the Penn Select meet has made fans reflect on where field events actually stand. Achieving a world lead and securing a spot among Jamaica’s all-time greats is no small feat. Yet, the muted response raises pressing questions about the sport’s future. If record-breaking achievements can go unnoticed, what does that signal to aspiring field athletes?