Olympic Champion Tara Davis-Woodhall “Lucky to Be Alive” After Car Crash

Tara Davis-Woodhall says she is “lucky and blessed to be alive” after a head-on car crash left her with a severe concussion.

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Lucky and blessed to be alive

The 27-year-old American was traveling to training last week when the collision occurred. Both cars were moving at about 20 mph and were written off, but Davis-Woodhall said her injuries were not life-threatening and that she walked away without major injuries.

She has not trained since the crash and has not decided whether she will compete at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. “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.”

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Luckily I walked away without any major injuries.

Davis-Woodhall said she is working with her team and doctors to recover. The championships begin on Sept. 11, with athletes competing for a top prize of £111,000. The three-day event brings together Olympic, world and Diamond League champions, as well as the leading performers of the year. Davis-Woodhall won Olympic long jump gold in Paris in 2024 and the world title in Tokyo the following year.

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It's really unfortunate timing; I am at the peak of my training right now. 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.