Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall stated she is "lucky and blessed to be alive" following a recent head-on car collision. The 27-year-old American athlete was en route to training last week when the accident occurred, resulting in a "severe" concussion.
While not entirely ruling out participation in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest this month, Davis-Woodhall confirmed she has been unable to train since the incident. "Luckily I walked away without any major injuries," she posted on social media. "At this point I'm working with my team and doctors to get healthy, but I'm not sure if I will be ready to compete at Ultimate Championships next week. More updates to come."
Davis-Woodhall noted that her injuries were not life-threatening, but both vehicles involved, traveling at approximately 20 mph, were rendered inoperable. "It's really unfortunate timing; I am at the peak of my training right now," she said. "I'm as fast as I've ever been. I'm as strong as I've ever been. So this decision is very difficult for me. I don't know where I am right now."
The championships in Hungary are scheduled to commence on September 11, offering athletes a top prize of £111,000. This event is designed to bring together Olympic, world, and Diamond League champions, along with the season's leading performers, for a three-day end-of-season competition. Davis-Woodhall secured the long jump gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and subsequently won the World Championships in Tokyo the following year.