Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy after sharing a training update on social media.
Davis-Woodhall, who soared to Olympic glory in Paris with a stunning 7.10m jump to claim gold, recently posted a video of her first short jump session of the year. The clip, meant to showcase her return to the sandpit, instead sparked a debate about her hair, with some followers fixated on its lack of movement during the jump.
“First short jump session of the year. Me and the pit are back together,” she captioned the post.
However, instead of focusing solely on her form and performance, some fans took to the comments to critique her appearance, particularly her hairstyle. One user commented, “Come on silk pressss,” shifting attention to Davis-Woodhall’s natural hair rather than her impressive leap.
Others, however, came to her defense or admired her look. One fan praised her new style with, “Love the new look ,” while another seemed more interested in her stylish athletic wear, writing, “Dang it!! I’m the only one wondering how someone gets a Celsius matching set?”
Despite the mixed reactions, the Olympic gold medalist has remained focused on her training, determined to continue her dominance in the long jump. Having started her season early, she is already making strides under the guidance of her coach, Travis Geopfert.
Davis-Woodhall and her husband, Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhall, recently settled in Kansas, where she has also taken on a coaching role as an assistant track and field coach at K-State.
The couple, known for their playful social media presence, frequently share glimpses of their training sessions, workouts, and personal life with their massive online following. Their fans, who usually shower them with love and encouragement, were split this time, with some defending Davis-Woodhall against the unnecessary criticism.
“Love seeing the re-start and building the progress back to form. You are beauty and beast mode in motion,” one supporter wrote, shifting the focus back to her athletic journey.
Other supporters echoed similar sentiments. “She’s backkkkk ,” another fan commented, while one praised both her jump and her look, saying, “Hair!!!!! jump .”
Davis-Woodhall, who has faced public scrutiny before, has yet to respond to the comments directly. However, she has never let negativity distract her from her goals. Fresh off her gold medal win at the World Indoor Championships, she continues to prove that her success is built on talent and hard work, not external appearances.
Meanwhile, the Woodhalls remain one of the most beloved athletic couples on social media. With nearly a million subscribers on YouTube, their content highlights not just their sporting achievements but also their personal bond.
