Tara Davis-Woodhall hits out at abusive coaches as she sends inspirational message to athletes

Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall

Tara Davis-Woodhall hits out at abusive coaches as she sends inspirational message to athletes

Joel Omotto 17:22 - 14.01.2025

Olympics champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has weighed on the abusive relationships between some coaches and athletes, while advising track and field stars what to do incase of such scenarios.

Olympics long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has advised athletes not to be afraid to leave coaches who make their life unbearable no matter how good they may be.

Davis-Woodhall, who recently took up a role as an assistant coach at Kansas University, is perhaps mindful of what such relationships can lead to, now that she is experiencing both sides of the coin.

The athlete has shared a comment from artist Michael James Schneider which hits out at toxic coaches while also criticizing athletes who are afraid to move away from such situations, seeming to agree with his stance.

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“Change is hard but staying somewhere you don’t belong will literally destroy you,” the post reads, adding: “Because this isn’t talked about enough. Leave the mentally abusive coaching situation. This is your career not theirs and coaches, athletes are humans too.”

Davis-Woodhall is now one of the most vocal voices in track and field, having risen to prominence since winning her first Olympics title at the Paris 2024 Games.

She was not afraid to have a go at US sprint legend Michael Johnson when he claimed he could only save track but could not track and field, accusing the four-time Olympics champion of ‘killing’ the sport while claiming it does not need him.

As she embraces her new role, the 25-year-old knows she will have to strike the right balance with her athletes while she will also be mindful of whom she works with as she looks to continue her success as well.

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