“We were fighting to even be let into the sport”- Tara Davis-Woodhall & Hunter Woodhall expose harsh reality of sport as they discuss their struggles

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are a power couple of the track and field world. Recently, the duo discussed the hidden struggles athletes face in the sport, recalling an instance when the former wasn't allowed to compete in Diamond League meets.

Davis-Woodhall and Woodhall have been together since 2017, when they were still in college. The couple got married in 2022, and enjoy a large following on social media as they share regular behind-the-scenes glimpses into their everyday life.

Both the athletes have also been vocal about the need for major changes in track and field, to combat the sport's dying popularity. Recently, the couple made an appearance on Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, and Grant Holloway’s Behind The Record Podcast, where they spoke about the issues that plague track and field.

During the podcast, Lyles and Benjamin both praised the Woodhalls for their ‘unorthodox’ approach to the sport, prompting Hunter Woodhall to reveal that they hadn't often had a choice. He then recalled an instance where Tara Davis-Woodhall wasn't allowed to participate in the Diamond League, saying (at 28:04):

“The first year out of college, we couldn't even get her in a diamond league meet. They said no. They wouldn't even let her come to the mee. We said, I swear to God we said, ‘we will pay our way to the meet, you don't got to pay for our travel, you don't got to pay for our hotel, we will get there, just let us compete’, and they said no. We were fighting to even be let into the sport.”

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall reflect on their 2024

The Woodhalls at the NASCAR Cup Series (Image Source: Getty)

For Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, 2024 was a phenomenal year. Davis-Woodhall went unbeaten throughout the season, with the highlight of her year being the Paris Olympics, where she claimed her maiden gold medal with a jump of 7.10m. Meanwhile, Woodhall's year saw him dominate the Paris Paralympics, as he won gold in the men's 400m T62 and a bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay.

Reflecting on their 2024 together, the two athletes shared snaps of their year on their Instagram page, writing,

“The craziest year of our lives. So many ups and downs but somehow ended on top. We can't say thank you enough for all the support. We had a david vs Goliath dream, and we couldn't have done it alone. Thanks to everyone who made it happen.”

After the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall have moved to Kansas City in order to continue to train under their long-time coach Travis Geopfert. The duo are yet to confirm their competition schedule for 2025, but fans will no doubt be eager to see them in action.