“I’ve dealt with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts,” Tara Davis-Woodhall revealed in a heartfelt message shared on the eve of World Mental Health Day last year. It was a powerful and personal declaration from an elite athlete, one many wouldn’t expect from someone so often seen smiling and soaring over long jump pits.

Mental health struggles are more common than ever, and athletes are no exception. For Tara, the journey hasn’t always been golden. Behind the medals and the spotlight were dark moments marked by overwhelming emotions and inner battles. She described those periods as a “curse,” a mental weight she had to fight hard to lift. And though she’s found strength through those struggles, it’s not a path she wishes on anyone else. That’s why Tara now uses her platform to shine a light on mental health—especially in sports where vulnerability is often masked by toughness. In her emotional World Mental Health Day post, she urged others to seek support:  “If you’re dealing with this, do not be afraid to reach out for help,” Tara wrote in her message.

Additionally, she mentioned, “It is not a shame to be dealing with these unfamiliar emotions. Our brains can create chaos that sometimes we don’t know how to manage and that’s okay.” However, that’s not all. In her recent conversation, she also reflected on how little mental health awareness there was when she was coming up in track and field.

In a recent conversation with the USATF Foundation, Tara Davis-Woodhall reflected on her early struggles with mental health—struggles she often had to face alone.  “I never had anyone in my sport with [stories about mental health], so I could never relate to anyone. I want to try and be that person,” she shared. That determination to be a guiding light for others came from having to become her own support system. Tara didn’t rely on medication to navigate her darkest moments—instead, she found healing in something deeply personal: music.

Music became Tara’s sanctuary. And one artist in particular resonates with her more than most—Billie Eilish. “I like that she talks about mental health in her songs a lot,” Tara said. This is important to Tara, who is passionate about sharing her story and being a role model for others to look up to. The raw emotion, the vulnerability in Billie’s lyrics, offered comfort and connection—something Tara once struggled to find in the competitive world of track and field.

Today, the Olympic long jump champion isn’t just known for her explosive performances on the runway—she’s become a powerful voice in the mental health conversation. Her Instagram post on World Mental Health Day, where she opened up about her journey, drew over 80,000 likes and even more hearts. In that post, she didn’t just share her story—she shared tools. Simple, but profound. “Talk to someone, self-care, and journaling. Journaling has saved my life. Writing things down to get it out of your head.” For Tara, healing is a process, and she’s showing others that it’s okay to feel, to fall, and to fight your way back. And these aren’t the only times she spoke about mental health. 

Tara Davis-Woodhall explains her “freak-out” moment 

In a heartfelt interview with Cosmopolitan, Tara Davis-Woodhall opened up about a powerful lesson she carries with her into every competition—one that didn’t come from a coach, but from her therapist. When asked, “Outside of Hunter being your support, you’ve always been vocal about your therapist and mental health journey. Are there any takeaways or mantras that your therapist has given you that you carry into competing?” Tara didn’t hesitate.

“I can definitely freak out and start crying and panicking,” she admitted honestly. “But if I do that, it’s done.” That’s when her therapist’s voice echoes in her mind, grounding her in the chaos of high-stakes moments: “When you get stressed in a moment, I want you to breathe in what you want and exhale what you don’t want.” It was more than just a calming technique—it became a ritual. Tara reached for her journal and wrote down the words that now anchor her before every meet: “Breathe in confidence, exhale fear.” ‘

That simple mantra has turned moments of panic into moments of power. It’s a glimpse into how Tara Davis-Woodhall transforms vulnerability into strength—one breath, one word, one leap at a time.