Left Aside by Michael Johnson, Tara Davis-Woodhall Reveals Key Reason Behind Joining Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos

What happens when one of track and field’s most vibrant stars gets left out of the spotlight? She creates her own. That’s exactly what Tara Davis-Woodhall is doing on her terms, in her lane. You probably know Tara as the queen of the long jump: Olympian, NCAA champion, U.S. champ, and the one who always brings sparkle to the sandpit. But this time, headlines weren’t just about her jumps; they were about a decision that raised eyebrows. When Michael Johnson announced his new high-profile track league filled with elite talent, Tara was missing from the lineup. No invite. No explanation. And no space for field event stars like her. But Tara doesn’t sit back and sulk.

She makes power moves. That’s where Athlos comes in. Founded by Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and Serena Williams’ husband, Athlos is a women-first track and field event designed to elevate athletes with entertainment, visibility, and big prize money. Its debut in 2024 was flashy and full of track events, but it lacked one thing: field events. So when Athlos 2025 announced the long jump was officially on the card, Tara didn’t hesitate.

She’s now headlining the event and representing every athlete who’s ever felt sidelined. Tara’s reason? It’s not just about herself. In a recent Cosmopolitan interview, she said, “I just want this sport to be elevated back to where it used to be… I’m trying to change it and let people see it and put a different scope on what track and field is and share the many inspiring stories it has to offer.”

The truth is, even though field events like the hammer throw or long jump take crazy skill and have created some epic moments, they often get overlooked by media and fans compared to the flashy sprints. People are trying new things, like head-to-head knockouts in the long jump, to make it more exciting. And honestly? Tara Davis-Woodhall’s out here changing the whole game.

Look at what she’s done: at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she snagged gold in the women’s long jump with a massive 7.10-meter leap, only the fourth American woman ever to do that! In Tokyo 2020, she was solid too, finishing sixth. So it makes you wonder, why wasn’t she picked for Michael Johnson’s new big-name track league?

Tara Davis-Woodhall calls out Michael Johnson

The controversy began when Michael Johnson announced his new Grand Slam Track (GST) series, which focuses exclusively on track events like sprints and hurdles but notably excludes field events such as the long jump and shot put. This decision drew sharp criticism from Tara Davis-Woodhall and her husband, Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhall.

Tara publicly responded to Johnson’s comment, “I think I can save track, I don’t think I can save track and field,” by saying, “Michael, you are ruining the sport if you are trying to save just track… it’s track and field for a reason.” Hunter also mocked Johnson’s approach, suggesting his comments were more about staying relevant than respecting the full scope of athletics.

In response to Tara Davis-Woodhall’s backlash, Michael Johnson clarified his position, emphasizing his love for both track and field and explaining that GST’s initial focus is on track events to build financial incentives and fan engagement. He expressed openness to including field events in the future and invited others interested in promoting those disciplines to collaborate with his team.

Johnson underlined that his goal is to elevate the entire sport, stating, “My mission is to elevate the sport… It’s not easy and won’t happen overnight, but we will succeed with your continued support.” At the end of the day, this whole conversation is a reminder that while trying new things and growing the sport is important, we can’t forget what makes track and field special, all the different events and athletes that come together to make it what it is. If we want the sport to thrive, everyone needs to be included and appreciated.

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