Olympic champion ‘lucky to be alive’ after being involved in terrifying car crash on the way to training

OLYMPIC long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall insists she is “lucky to be alive” after a head-on car crash. The American, 27, is one of the most recognisable faces in US track and field, and won gold in her specialist event at the Paris Games in 2024. Tara Davis-Woodhall won long jump gold in Paris two years ago Credit: Getty Davis-Woodhall’s career-best mark stands at 7.20m Credit: Getty Davis-Woodhall wrote off her car en route to training last week and suffered a “severe concussion”. She said: “I pulled into the parking lot, and this lady just made a turn. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “We were both going about 20mph, so both of our cars were totalled. It’s very scary. “I’m lucky and blessed to be alive and with no life-threatening injuries.” Davis-Woodhall’s scary smash has raised doubts about her spot at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. Next week’s meet will pit the world’s best athletes against each other, with a £111,000 prize for the winner of each event. Davis-Woodhall added: “I haven’t trained at all due to [the crash]. “I’ve seen my doctors and my physios, and everyone’s just trying to get me back into it. Most read in Sport Davis-Woodhall does not know whether she will compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Credit: Getty Davis-Woodhall is married to Paralympic champion Hunter Woodhall Credit: Getty “I’m physically okay. Mentally, it’s just something’s going on in there. “It’s really unfortunate timing. I’m 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. “This decision is very difficult for me. I don’t know where I am right now. So, day by day.” Davis-Woodhall, who is married to Paralympic champion Hunter Woodhall, last competed at the USATF Outdoor Championships in July, taking third in the long jump and the 100m hurdles. Comment now