“I think it’s important to show everything because it’s like a reality check.” Tara Davis-Woodhall has always been open about her life, whether it has been good or bad. The 25-year-old American phenom, who leapt 7.10 meters to claim victory at the Paris Games, has spent the early months of 2025 balancing her roles as an athlete, coach, and other half alongside her husband, Hunter Woodhall. While she continues to inspire young athletes and has settled into life in Manhattan, Kansas, her recent revelation about a personal medical condition has left fans and fellow athletes in shock. But what did she confess about?
Taking to Threads on March 29, Tara Davis-Woodhall made a candid confession. Her words appeared heavy with emotion and would have probably struck a chord with many. She elaborated on her struggle with ADHD, a condition she has learned to manage since graduating college. However, post-Olympics, she feels as if she has regressed. Her post read, “One thing I don’t talk enough about is my ADHD. Since graduating college, I’ve learned ways to manage/cope with it, but after the Olympics, I feel like I’ve gone backwards. Athlete/friends, how do you manage yours? ”
Having already struggled with depression and even considered quitting the sport, Davis-Woodhall made a triumphant return, winning a long jump gold for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She experienced anxiety for the first time during her university days at Texas. Therapy helped her get out of the depression, and once she broke through in therapy, a whole new world opened for her. “Some tips to help: talk to someone, self-care, and journaling. Journaling has saved my life. Writing things down to get it out of your head,” Woodhall shared on World Mental Health Day last year.
Her vulnerability is not new. On January 20, 2025, on their official YouTube channel, Tara and Hunter, the couple, uploaded a video where she shared her mental health experience, highlighting how therapy helped her heal. Tara recalled talking to her therapist about so many things going on in her life, “When I talked to my therapist about that, she’s like, ‘You’re just a human dude. You’ve got to just take it day by day. Not every day is going to be perfect. Not every day is going to be rainbows and butterflies and you have a smile on your face.” Once she accepted the healing process, she found a new sense of purpose.
Her confessions are not about medals or statistics—it’s an unfiltered glimpse into the struggles of staying mentally strong in the face of relentless pressure. She is not the only athlete who has been dealing with mental health problems. Sadly, there are others, too.
Tara Davis-Woodhall, Simone Biles, and Noah Lyles have one thing in common
Simone Biles, the all-time most decorated gymnast. Noah Lyles is the fastest man alive. And Tara Davis-Woodhall, the long jump sensation. Apart from their dazzling Olympic feats, these elite athletes are linked by one more commonality—they have all had to wrestle with mental issues while pursing physical perfection in their sports. With the support of professional therapists, they have also honed tools to build up their minds.
Talking about mental illness is frequently the first step that prompted some sports stars to incorporate conversations about mental illness into their game preparation just like gym training. World sprint champion Noah Lyles has availed himself of such advantages from a young age. “I’ve been in therapy since I was probably nine years old, so this is not foreign to me. It’s very normal. It’s natural,” Lyles said to Olympics.com. “Mental health isn’t its own entity. It’s everyday life. We’re just talking about everyday things and it just so happens that you feel uncomfortable because you feel vulnerable and it’s the feeling of being vulnerable that stops you from wanting to talk about it.” he disclosed.
Simone Biles also incorporated therapy into her weekly schedule following Tokyo 2020. Two years on, she completed her dominant return by sweeping four gold medals at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October. There are numerous pressures that confront professional athletes throughout their lives, from career-ending injuries to the burden of media, national federations, and sponsors—all conducted in front of thousands of spectators. Too often, though, the greatest struggle is the one within.
In spite of the setbacks, Davis-Woodhall is an inspiration of determination. Her authenticity regarding ADHD and mental health places emphasis on having these discussions within the world of sports. As much as she might feel as though she’s gone backward, her bravery to speak out proves that she’s still going in the best possible direction.
The post “I’ve Gone Backwards”: Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall Makes Saddening Confession While Revealing Major Medical Condition appeared first on EssentiallySports.