Tara Davis-Woodhall in the long jump at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall, who won her first global title this year at the World Indoor Championships, added a second tonight as she became the Olympic long jump champion with a characteristically exuberant performance that culminated in a best effort of 7.10m.
The 25-year-old from California, who set personal best of 7.18m indoors in February, looked more and more relaxed as the competition progressed, and she moved clear of a determined but ultimately successful title defence by Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who earned silver with a best of 6.98m.
Meanwhile Davis-Woodhall’s 23-year-old teammate Jasmine Moore collected her second bronze of these Games thanks to her opening effort of 6.96m, having finished third in Saturday’s triple jump final.
Larisa Iapichino, Italy’s 22-year-old European silver medallist, produced a consistently good set of jumps but just missed the podium with a best of 6.87m.
“I’ve been saying this, I’ve dreamed of this moment my entire life – four years old when I started track and field,” said Davis-Woodhall, who is unbeaten this year and has jumped beyond seven metres in every competition since February. “I’ve been telling myself all year: 8-0-8, that’s the day we win the Olympics. 8-0-8, that’s the day.
Asked about having her husband, US Paralympian Hunter Woodhall, the T62 400m bronze medallist at the Tokyo Paralympics, with her, she responded: “It’s everything. We’ve worked so hard this season. I’m so excited to come back for the Paralympics, I’ll be here supporting him just like he’s here supporting me. I just can’t wait, it’ll be very special.”
On the subject of tattooing the word ‘sacrifice’ on her torso she added: “It’s the first word I even learned. I have sacrificed so much for my life, since the age that I can remember. It’s been a lot.”
As for her proposed celebration: “I got to go find my husband, we'll have some tequila shots or something.”
Moore commented: “I am so over the moon. I am so thankful and grateful. I was so nervous out here, because it was such a quick turnaround, but I trusted myself, and my body felt good.
“I have been on the same runway for four days now, so I was very comfortable and felt good with the crowd. This meeting has been a dream. Two Olympic medals, two bronze medals. I am so thankful."
Mihambo had put her title defence in jeopardy during qualifying by fouling on the first two of her jumps before recovering her fortunes with an effort of 6.86m.
There was no such uncertainty tonight as an opening effort of 6.77m established her as early leader, although by the end of the first round she was down to fourth behind Moore and Davis-Woodhall, who had respective efforts of 6.96m and 6.93m, and Iapichino on 6.78m.
The 30-year-old German nudged back into third place with her second-round effort of 6.81m without looking particularly thrilled with it. But then, as a 7.30m jumper who had won the European title two months ago with a world-leading 7.22m, why would she be?
A third-round jump of 6.95m strengthened her bronze-medal position, although the ever-exuberant Davis-Woodhall had moved further ahead with her second-round effort of 7.05m, and her third-round effort of 6.95m showed she was well and truly in the zone.
One round later came her 7.10m, and while Mihambo improved again in round five, 6.98m changed nothing for her.
As Mihambo accelerated down the runway on her final attempt Davis-Woodhall faced steadfastly towards her coach, who was soon able to deliver the good news to her that the defending champion had run through on her final effort and was now the Olympic silver medallist.
Further energised, if that were possible, Davis-Woodhall set off for her final, irrelevant effort, which was a very respectable effort of 6.68m, before flinging herself on her back in the sand like a child playing on a first day at the beach.
Esa Brume of Nigeria finished fifth with a sixth-round best of 6.70m, one place ahead of the United States’ Monae Nichols, who reached 6.67m.
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics
Full report to follow...
| WOMEN'S LONG JUMP MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) | 7.10m |
| 🥈 | Malaika Mihambo (GER) | 6.98m |
| 🥉 | Jasmine Moore (USA) | 6.96m |
| Full results | ||
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