On June 15, the sky over Stockholm’s Olympiastadion was a perfect shade of blue. The kind of sky that makes you believe in signs. And maybe, just maybe, Tara Davis-Woodhall took it as one. “It’s so surreal to actually be here and then to win and tie the meet record. I’m just saying it’s insane,” she said afterward, still overwhelmed, still glowing. It wasn’t just another meet. It was her first time ever competing at the Stockholm Diamond League. For many, Olympiastadion is just a venue. For Tara, it was something far deeper—a place of clarity. Of peace. Of independence. But while she may have been chasing emotional serenity, the scoreboard told another story. And it told it loudly, for everyone to react!
In her very first attempt, Tara sprinted down the runway, eyes fierce, form crisp, and soared. When she landed in the sand, the number flashed: 7.05 meters. A season’s best. A meet record. And a statement loud enough to silence the crowd for a moment. Even her fiercest rival, Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, had to watch as Tara jumped 30 centimeters beyond her own 6.75m mark that day. If there were any doubts before, they were airborne now, sailing right over the sandpit with Tara. But the response wasn’t just coming from the stands. It came from two of track and field’s biggest voices.
On June 19, sprint legend Justin Gatlin posted a clip from his Ready Set Go podcast on Instagram. The caption read like a mission statement: “This is how a champion shows up with dominance as a mindset!! Standing on the top of the podium brings glory but also the obligation to preform [perform] like a champion here on out!!” In the clip, Gatlin could hardly contain his disbelief. “You ask and you receive. And she [Tara] definitely gave you what’s needed right there, boy.” Beside him, Rodney Green wasn’t just impressed—he was electrified. “I was like, I want to see Tara jumping. ‘Hey, she’s jumping. She’s jumping at the doggone box.’” And then, like a mic drop: “7.05 is not a slump jump. I think she’s 0.02 off the world lead. But this is her opener. It was very great to see.” To call it just “great” feels like an understatement.
Tara Davis-Woodhall’s only other performance this season had been at the 115th Drake Relays, where she jumped 6.75m. And now, in just her second appearance of the season, she added nearly 30 centimeters—a leap in numbers and, more importantly, in stature. Well, Gatlin and Green knew what they were witnessing. This wasn’t luck. This wasn’t hype. It was precision. Passion. And preparation is clicking at the perfect moment. And there was a sheer confidence in her own ability. Tara explained that before entering the meet.
Behind Tara Davis-Woodhall’s victories
For Tara Davis-Woodhall, confidence isn’t just a mindset—it’s part of her DNA. How so? Even before she stepped onto the runway in Stockholm, she had already set the tone. At the pre-contest press conference, Tara didn’t hedge her words or play it safe. She leaned into her truth with full conviction: “I’m faster and stronger than I’ve ever been. So I’m excited to put that out on the runway tomorrow and see where see where I am.” No fluff. No caution. Just bold, unapologetic self-belief—the kind that only champions carry.
And the Olympic champion wasn’t just talking about testing the waters. She was ready to dive in headfirst. Tara revealed she’d be taking a full approach down the runway—18 powerful steps—a move that signaled not only technical confidence but pure intent. She wasn’t there to warm up or play it safe. This was only her second meet of the season, and yet, she was preparing to unleash everything. What do you call that, if not sheer, unshakable confidence?
2023 World Athletics Championships Budapest Tara Davis-Woodhall USA, Long Jump Women, during the 2023 World Athletics Championships at National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary on 19 August 2023. Budapest National Athletics Centre Hungary Editorial use only, Copyright: xIanxStephenx PSI-17887-0049
And the next day, the 26-year-old athlete backed every word with action—soaring 7.05 meters on her first attempt, tying the meet record and catapulting herself straight into the world-lead conversation. Tara Davis-Woodhall doesn’t just believe in herself. She declares it, lives it, and then lands it—in style.
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