Tara Davis-Woodhall is exploring new horizons after the most successful year in her track and field career. Achieving the Olympic dream at 25, the long jump specialist still has a long career ahead and thus hopes to explore her passion with a new perspective. “I think it’ll help me become a better athlete in my own right,” Davis-Woodhall said about her new role as assistant coach.

However, there’s much more behind the newly appointed Kansas State track and field team’s assistant coach’s decision than simply getting better. Besides learning the sport from a mentor’s perspective, the Olympic champion hopes to become someone other athletes can rely on. “I also just want to be someone that I needed in college,” said the Olympic champion.

The Olympian revealed how difficult it was to keep the passion for her sport alive amidst the myriad of struggles. “….Injuries, depression, parents divorcing, transferring schools. I went through so much that I feel like I have some knowledge and experience that will help me be a mentor,” Tara Davis-Woodhall told SELF. The Olympian also believes her age will play a role.

“I’m not that much older than the students and can relate to what they’re going through,” the Olympian added in the interview. Davis-Woodhall believes that students might have an easier time opening up to someone who has gone through a lot and still managed to rise above the challenges. And while the Olympian only spoke about college, her struggles started in childhood.

The Olympic gold medalist’s challenges started when she moved to Calabasas, California, at 11. Having spent her early childhood in Dallas, the youngster didn’t understand why she was the butt of all jokes at first. “I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s because I’m the only black girl,'” Tara Davis-Woodhall told SHRM INCLUSION in November 2024.

Although the athlete continued to excel in sports, it also sowed the seeds of depression and body image issues she struggled with until college. So the 25-year-old hopes that after a lifetime of beating the odds, she can help others do the same. However, coaching is only going to be a part of the Olympic medalist’s 2025 journey.

How Tara Davis-Woodhall aims to manage coaching and training

During her conversation with ‘SELF,’ the 2024 indoor world champion explained that she has only attended three practices at Kansas State. The first session was in October and the following two in November. However, the Olympic icon plans to go all in on her assistant coaching role in 2025. “Once we start training this week, I’m going to be there all the time,” said Davis-Woodhall.

Yet this begs the question: How will Tara Davis-Woodhall manage her training? After all, the 25-year-old plans to defend her Olympic long jump crown on home soil at LA 2028. However, the athlete also has already thought of a solution. “I’ll be training with them. So it’s the best of both worlds,” said the reigning Olympic champion.

The Texas native also hopes teaching college students will only push her to do better. The track and field icon believes setting an example for younger athletes as their assistant coach and an Olympic champion will benefit her too. And who knows? The two-time Olympian may even desire to explore other elements of her sport, as track and field veteran Rodney Green predicted.

“She is that talented. I won’t be surprised if I see her in the 100m. I won’t be surprised if I see her trying to do a triple, I won’t be surprised at all,” said the Ready Set Go podcast co-host. And while Tara Davis-Woodhall didn’t elaborate on any such plans, what do you think her 2025 season will be like? Let us know in the comments.