Before setting foot in Sweden for the Stockholm Diamond League on June 15, Tara Davis-Woodhall had competed only once this season—at the 115th Drake Relays in Iowa. Until then, she hadn’t traveled outside the U.S. to test her form against international rivals. But the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League marked a significant shift.
Traveling alongside her husband, Paralympian Hunter Woodhall, Tara made her Diamond League season debut at the historic Olympiastadion. It was her first-ever appearance in Stockholm, and she came into the event both excited and eager. What followed was a performance for the ages.
Tara wasted no time making her mark. On her very first attempt, she soared to 7.05m with a wind reading of +1.3—good enough for a meet record (MR), a season’s best, and the third-best jump in the world this year. She outperformed Italy’s Larissa Iapichino (6.90m), fellow American Jasmine Moore (6.76m), and even her longtime rival, Germany’s Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo (6.75m). The victory was emphatic. But for Tara, the moment carried more weight than just numbers on a results sheet.
In her post-meet interaction with the Wanda Diamond League, Tara was visibly emotional. “It’s so surreal to actually be here and then to win and tie the meet record. I’m just saying it’s insane. When I first actually walked in,” she said. “I got so emotional, yes, because I could feel the history behind the stadium. And if you look in the stands, there’s so much history.”
Track & Field: Drake Relays Apr 26, 2025 Des Moines, IA, USA Tara Davis-Woodhall reacts after winning the women s long jump at 22-1 3/4 6.75m during the 115th Drake Relays at Drake Stadium. Des Moines Drake Stadium Iowa United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250426_lbm_al2_462
That “history” wasn’t just about famous performances or past athletic glory. For Tara, it was about something deeper. “I mean, if you look it up, if you look up the stadium history, there’s so much like women couldn’t even be allowed in the stadium. Women couldn’t compete until like the 1960s, 1920s. I’ve got to remember what it said,” Tara added. “But yeah, just to be in the stadium as an African American woman as well. It’s just pretty insane.” Her reflections added a powerful layer to what was already a memorable win.
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