Nearly half of teenage girls leave sports early, not for lack of talent, but because of body confidence struggles. Research by Nike and Dove reveals that 56% of these young athletes were “mocked, criticized, or bullied” based on their body sizes. It’s a sobering reality in a world overflowing with talent, but even stars like Dove partner, Tara Davis-Woodhall, have faced the same pressures and doubts. Yet, she never gave up. Let’s take a closer look at her inspiring story.

Recently, the Olympic gold medalist joined Ellen Hyslop and Stephanie Rotz on their podcast to discuss sports and athlete well-being. When asked about her partnership with Dove to tackle the issue of girls dropping out of sports due to bullying and body-image struggles, Davis-Woodhall revealed a striking truth. “Our body confidence, we can say we’re confident all day long and work so hard on it all day long but still sometimes in the back of your head it’s like, ‘Ugh you don’t look good, you don’t look this, you don’t look that.’ The voice has to go away at some point, like you realize we are human beings and to hear and to know that girls drop out due to this,” said the athlete.

Davis-Woodhall shared her own story, revealing that back at Agoura High School, she was bold and outspoken. Many boys her age, and even some older, tried to rattle her, but she never let anyone’s opinions shake her confidence, “I could have been that one, like growing up, like I look too strong and look too square from boys back school, but if I would have stopped then, then I wouldn’t have been where I am right now. I’m just telling you, give yourself a chance, be you, you are the only version of yourself, so just be there. If I could scream that, like across the wall, I would have, but we are doing our best out here.”

Davis-Woodhall was asked how she handles bad days in her professional career. Thoughtfully, she revealed that she can be very hard on herself when things go wrong, and sometimes that frustration spills into her personal relationships. But what truly matters, she explained, is whether she has learned something from the experience. Lastly, she stated, “I feel like if you have nine good days and one bad day, it feels good, yeah, every day cannot be a good day.”

Tara Davis-Woodhall has joined forces with Dove as an ambassador, alongside Venus Williams, Kylie Kelce, and Odessa Jenkins, to address the decline in girls’ sports participation caused by body bullying. The Body Confident Sport online coaching tool, proven to boost body esteem and reduce self-objectification, will be rolled out through a global network of schools and sports clubs.

Building on Nike’s and Dove’s long-standing commitment to empowering girls, the program aims to inspire over one million young people worldwide. Well, this is not the first time she has come forward to speak out about these underlying issues.

Tara Davis-Woodhall’s honest thoughts about tackling mental health issues

In an emotional post at World Mental Health Day, Tara encouraged others to seek help, writing, “If you’re dealing with this, do not be afraid to reach out for help.” She added, “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.” Reflecting on her journey, she also acknowledged the lack of mental health awareness during her early years in track and field, highlighting how far the conversation has come since then.

While having a conversation with the USATF Foundation, the athlete opened up about her early mental health struggles, the challenges she often faced 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. Her determination to guide others stemmed from having to become her own support system.

For Tara, music became a refuge, a place to escape the pressure of the track. One artist, in particular, hits closer to home than most: Billie Eilish. “I like that she talks about mental health in her songs a lot,” Tara said. Despite struggling with depression and anxiety after tough performances, Tara found solace in music. What do you think of her perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!