Tara Davis-Woodhall isn’t just leaping far—she’s learning fast. After a heart-wrenching near-win at the Budapest World Championships, the Olympic long jump star is using the setback as fuel. Reflecting on the moment, she shared, “I was this close to winning, and on the final jump, I got it taken away. I was like, Ugh, that hurt. You can’t let that happen again. I wanted to put something out there so far that no one could touch it.” That fire, that focus—it’s all building toward Tokyo, where she’s ready to leave no doubt and no distance unclaimed.
However, Tara Davis-Woodhall felt the sting in Budapest. She opened strong with a 6.91m jump, but Serbia’s Ivana Vuleta soared past her with a 7.14m world lead to steal gold. Tara walked away with silver, but not defeat. Fast forward to Paris, and the story flipped. With a clutch 7.10m in her fourth attempt, she outjumped reigning Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo and claimed the crown.
From heartbreak to heroics, Tara turned silver pain into golden glory. On the June 8th episode of Ready Set Go, American sprint legend Justin Gatlin dropped a bold take on Tara Davis-Woodhall’s comeback. When asked by Rodney Green if the Olympic gold medalist is ready for another breakout moment, Gatlin didn’t hesitate.
With fans still buzzing about her electric performances last season, Gatlin highlighted Tara’s resilience, her mentorship from Miss Hall, and the fire she’s building post-surgery. With a seven-meter jump looming and the world watching, the stage is set. Tara’s return could shake up the long jump scene all over again. But Justin Gatlin couldn’t hide his excitement when talking about Tara Davis-Woodhall.
He knows she’s built for the spotlight. “I think she’s excited to watch—she’s going to come. She’s always going to come up with something, bro. Tara is always going to come up with something, man,” Gatlin said. With Italy’s Lissa jumping a sharp 7.06 meters, Gatlin believes Tara’s already plotting her next move. “So I think she’s going to see Lissa’s on the radar with that 7.06, and she’s going to say, Okay, cool—now I see what my competition’s at right now. Now I need to know where I need to train.”
It’s clear—Tara’s comeback isn’t just hype. It’s personal. According to Justin Gatlin, Tara Davis-Woodhall’s mindset is laser-focused. She’s not chasing the spotlight—she’s chasing precision. “So she might be like, ‘I’m already there.’ So, for Tara, it’s all about timing now,” Gatlin explained. She already lived the dream—Olympic gold in grand fashion. Now, it’s about the when, not the where.
“It’s not necessarily going out there and saying, I’m going to jump here, I’m going to jump there.” For Tara, it’s about showing up when it matters most—and keeping her winning legacy alive. Look, Gatlin believes Tara Davis-Woodhall is playing the long game. He shared that constantly competing and finishing second or third gives rivals a read on your form.
“You getting second or third or whatever like that, and now your competitors kind of get a gauge on you,” he said. That’s why, in his eyes, Tara is laying low—staying locked in and training hard behind the scenes. She’s not gone, just gearing up. “I think Tara is sitting back, waiting—she’s training hard—and once she gets out there, you’ll go see Tara again.” When she returns, expect fireworks.
Why not? Tara Davis-Woodhall just added owner to her resume. She’s officially joined the ownership group of the Athlos Track & Field League.
Big Athlos move for Tara Davis-Woodhall
Olympic stars Gabby Thomas, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Tara Davis-Woodhall are now more than just champions on the track—they’re stepping into ownership. The trio has officially joined the ownership group of the Athlos Track & Field League, as revealed by Sports Business Journal. The move brings elite credibility and athlete-first energy to the league’s mission.
“We’re really at that stage of taking those steps to make sure that as we’re building this vision and the details around the vision, we’re doing it with the athletes at the center,” said Kayla Green, CMO of Athlos. Founded by Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, Athlos launched last year to keep track and field in the spotlight beyond the Olympics.
It’s also about putting more money in athletes’ pockets. As Ohanian put it, “Gabby, Sha’Carri, and Tara represent a new generation of athletes who have put this sport on their shoulders and deserve to be compensated for being the standard-bearers.” “We were focused on bringing them into the League as founding owners to ensure we’re building a League that our athletes will love,” said Athlos’ leadership, making it clear this is more than just business.
No, it’s about building a future powered by the athletes themselves. Now, Athlos is set to shine even brighter. The 2025 meet returns to New York City’s iconic Icahn Stadium on October 10, just after the World Championships in Tokyo. And this time, the women’s long jump takes center stage, with Tara Davis-Woodhall and Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore headlining the action.
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