Tara Davis-Woodhall has opened up about her mental health journey, sharing how therapy helps her navigate daily challenges.
Olympics long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has proven herself not only on the track but also in her fight for mental health.
The 25-year-old, a successful athlete, wife, and content creator, has been balancing the intense demands of her career and personal life.
But through all the pressure, she’s learned a vital lesson: taking it day by day, embracing the small wins, and giving herself grace in the moments of overwhelm, knowing that each day brings a new opportunity to grow and thrive.
Olympic champion Noah Lyles previously bragged about why it was unthinkable of him losing the Olympics 100m final.
In a candid moment shared with her fans on her YouTube channel Tara and Hunter, where she and her husband, Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhall, document their lives, Davis-Woodhall opened up about the importance of mental health in her athletic career and beyond.
The couple’s channel boasts over 900,000 subscribers, providing fans with a glimpse into their world.
“I talked to my therapist about of like I have so much going on in my track world and I have so much going on in my personal world. It’s like when I talk to my therapist about that and she’s like you’re just a human dude like you got to just take it day by day not every day is going to be perfect not every day is going to be rainbows and butterflies,” Davis-Woodhall said as quoted by SportsKeeda.
)
Gabby Thomas 300m school record had stood for seven years but has now been broken by the fast-rising Canadian sprinter.
She went on to describe the importance of taking small steps to move forward: “And you have a smile on the face, but for me my win is just getting out of the bed. Like there was times where I was stuck in my bed for hours and weeks and days like I just did not want to get up and for me making my bed every morning that helps me start my day on the right foot.”
Davis-Woodhall’s journey toward balancing her mental health with the intense pressure of being a top-tier athlete has been a long one, but it has shaped her into the champion she is today.
Alongside her athletic achievements, which include setting a collegiate record at the 2021 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and winning the 2023 national long jump championship, she has become an advocate for taking care of one’s mental wellbeing.
)
Sifan Hassan has explained why she will need hefty appearance fee and prize money before committing to Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track.
In her recent reflection on how she unlocked focus during her Olympic trials, Davis-Woodhall revealed how she learned to handle stress and performance anxiety through therapy and mental exercises.
“This year, I’ve been working on my mental health, and I’ve learned that you don’t have to worry about what coach says. You’ve done the training. You’ve got this. So, now it’s, I’m hyping my mind up. And when I was at one of my competitions, it was one of the most stressful competitions. It was Olympic trials,” she shared.
)
Next month, Keely Hodgkinson attempts to break Jolanda Čeplak’s indoor 800m record, evoking comparisons to Jarmila Kratochvílová’s legacy.
Davis-Woodhall’s ability to navigate challenges both mentally and physically came to a head during the Olympic trials, where she faced moments of intense pressure.
She recalled her anxiety just before her jumps, saying, “I scratched two jumps, and I was just in therapy, literally hours before going to compete and she was like, ‘Tara I want you to do this exercise when you’re on the runway or when you’re feeling stressed. Inhale what you want, exhale what you don’t want.’” Her therapist’s advice resonated deeply with her.
She further elaborated on how this simple exercise guided her to success: “So when I’m on the runway, I’m about to take off and I inhale, and I’m like breath in confidence, and exhale fear. And when I took off, I hit a jump and I made the Olympic team. It was incredible.”
Known for both her long jump and hurdles, Davis-Woodhall has been breaking records since her high school days, including a 20-year-old long jump state record and a National high school record in the 100m hurdles.
)
Elaine Thompson-Herah has been a victim of injuries and at one point in her career, she felt like there was no need to keep trying.
After attending the University of Georgia, she transferred to the University of Texas, where she continued to excel.
In addition to her impressive athletic career, Tara Davis-Woodhall has become a source of inspiration, proving that mental health care is as important as physical training.
