Tara Davis-Woodhall ends 2026 season after severe concussion in car crash

Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has ended her 2026 season after suffering a severe concussion in a car crash.

The 27-year-old American will miss this week’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Hungary as she continues to recover from injuries sustained in the August collision.

READ ALSO: Jetour Nigeria moves ‘Jetour Experience’ to Abuja, unveils RELY R8

Davis-Woodhall described the crash as a “very scary” head-on collision that happened while she was travelling to training. Although her injuries were not life-threatening, both vehicles involved were written off after the accident.

Announcing her decision to end her season, Davis-Woodhall said she was disappointed but remained determined to return to competition.

“This one hurts. I’m sad, disappointed and just hurt by all of it,” she wrote on social media. “I know this has to be part of my story. There has to be a reason for this. I’ll never question God’s path for me. I will be back. Just a hitch in my giddy-up.”

Davis-Woodhall won Olympic gold in the women’s long jump at the Paris 2024 Games before adding a world title in Tokyo the following year.

Her withdrawal is a major blow to the Ultimate Championship, which begins in Hungary on 11 September and features Olympic, world and Diamond League champions alongside the leading performers of the 2026 season.

The three-day event offers a top prize of £111,000 as athletes compete for one of the biggest individual rewards of the season.

Davis-Woodhall will now focus on her recovery before targeting a return to competition.