Tara Davis-Woodhall: Olympic long jump and world champion ‘lucky to be alive’ after being injured in car crash | Olympics News
Olympic and world champion long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall said she is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being involved in a head-on car collision while driving to training.
American Davis-Woodhall, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics and last year’s World Championships in Tokyo, suffered ‘no life-threatening’ injuries but was concussed by the crash last week.
The 27-year-old posted video of her crash – taken from a dashcam in her car – on social media, with Davis-Woodhall unsure whether she will be able to compete in this month’s inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
“Last week I was involved in a head on collision on my way to practice,” Davis-Woodhall posted on Instagram. “I walked away with a concussion and other injuries that have prevented me from training.
“At this point I’m working with my team and doctors to get healthy, but I’m unsure if I will be ready to compete at Ultimate Championships next week. More updates to come.”
In the video, a car turning right out of a parking lot veers into Davis-Woodhall’s lane and hits her car almost head-on, crumpling the front of both cars and deploying the airbags.
The American guessed that both cars were going about 20 miles per hour, with Davis-Woodhall able to walk away from the crash that left both cars written off.
“I’m lucky and blessed to be alive right now,” Davis-Woodhall said, showing off bruises on her arms. “I don’t know where my head’s at now. Just taking it day by day.”
Davis-Woodhall celebrates after winning the women’s long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Davis-Woodhall has yet to return to practice ahead of next week’s Ultimate World Championship, in Budapest from September 11-13, where athletes will compete for $150,000 (£112,000) first prizes.
“I’m physically OK,” Davis-Woodhall said. “Mentally, something’s going on in there. It’s really unfortunate timing.”
She added: “I went through something unfortunate,” she said. “Now I’m trying to figure out what I can do to get myself back on the horse.”
