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Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall rise to gloabal fame was marked by consitent rejection from high-profile meets.
Track and field power couple Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis Woodhall have revealed the struggles they faced on their journey to global fame, shedding light on the challenges they encountered early in their careers.
The duo, who have been together since their junior days before college, have spent the better part of their athletic journeys side by side.
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20:20 - 02.01.2025
‘The sport is down in the dumps’ - Hunter Woodhall & Tara Davis-Woodhall agree with Noah Lyles & Rai Benjamin over status of track & field
Paralympics champion Hunter Woodhall and his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall have given reasons why they feel track and field has been left behind, leading to low earnings for athletes.
Their story, marked by perseverance, has captured the attention of many as they both rose to the top of their respective disciplines.
In a recent episode of Beyond the Records, the Paris Olympics and Paralympics gold medalists opened up about their turbulent ascent to prominence in the track and field world.
Their candid conversation touched on the obstacles they had to overcome, including their initial struggles to even gain entry into major track meets.
“We couldn’t, bro. Like, we were put out of that world. Like, Tara, in her first year out of college, we couldn’t even get her into a Diamond League meet. They said no, they wouldn’t even let her come to the meet,” Woodhall recalled, reflecting on the challenges they faced early on.
Despite their persistent efforts, the couple found themselves fighting for a chance to compete at a high level.
“We said, I swear to God, we said, 'We will pay our way to the meet. You don’t have to pay for our travel, you don’t have to pay for our hotel. We will get there, just let us compete.’ And they said no, bro. We were fighting just to be let into the sport,” Woodhall added.
Their struggles were not rooted in a lack of talent but rather in their unorthodox approach to the sport.
One of the main factors contributing to their difficulties was their decision to forgo traditional avenues, such as hiring an agent, a move that set them apart from other athletes in the field.
“Well, this happened because we went the opposite way. We turned our back. We still don’t have one (an agent). We turned our back because I didn’t have a medal or international accolades. But look at my social media. If I come to your track meet, you’re going to get more views than you’ve ever gotten,” emphasized Davis-Woodhall.
Despite these early struggles, the couple persevered, and their hard work eventually paid off earning them global acclaim.
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17:24 - 03.01.2025
'We are not a team' - Rai Benjamin agrees with Tara Davis-Woodhall on why track & field athletes need to embrace individuality
Olympian Rai Benjamin is of the same opinion with Tara Davis-Woodhall of embracing individual identity, especially in athletics wear.
Their refusal to conform to the traditional track and field mold led them to unexpected success on the international stage.
They became key highlights of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, each earning gold medals in their respective events. Throughout the competition, the couple supported one another, creating an inspiring narrative of resilience and achievement in the world of track and field.
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