Tara Davis-Woodhall made history in the women’s long jump at the Olympics, becoming just the fourth U.S. woman to win gold in the event.
Her electrifying performance at Stade de France captivated the crowd as she soared to a stunning 7.10 meters (23 feet 3½ inches), clinching the top spot on the podium.
Before her fourth attempt, Davis-Woodhall took a moment to visualize her landing, pointing to a spot in the sand that would become her golden mark.
Her jump secured the gold and demonstrated her dominance, with her second-best jump of 7.05 meters (23-1½) surpassing the competition.
Reflecting on her journey, Davis-Woodhall expressed the significance of her victory, saying:
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was 4 years old. I’ve faced everything you can imagine, and I told myself: 8-0-8. That’s the day I win the Olympics.”
The final took place on August 8 at 8 p.m., a timing Davis-Woodhall saw as destiny after her sixth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
Silver and bronze went to Malaika Mihambo of Germany and U.S. teammate Jasmine Moore, respectively, but it was clear that the night belonged to Davis-Woodhall.
Known for her charismatic presence, she commanded the crowd’s attention, encouraging them to clap along before her jumps. Her gold-winning leap was the culmination of years of perseverance, including overcoming setbacks like her title being stripped after testing positive for cannabis at last year’s U.S. indoor championships.
Davis-Woodhall’s journey to Olympic gold is a testament to her resilience and determination, a story that has inspired many.
