Tara Davis-Woodhall has an uncharacteristic aura of nonchalance as she playfully skips about the running track, sporting a cowboy hat atop her head and a wide grin on her face. Little does one suspect that she is on the verge of securing the most significant championship of her athletic career.

Nevertheless, as soon as the hat is removed, the American track and field star becomes intensely focused and delivers a remarkable performance, one of her most outstanding to date. She achieves a tremendous jump of over seven meters, securing the gold medal and maintaining her undefeated record for the year.

Several weeks ago, at the indoor world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, the gold medal was won, leading to exuberant and lively celebrations. The cowboy hat made a comeback, accompanied by smiles and dancing along the side of the track.

One cannot help but be captivated by Davis-Woodhall’s technique in the long jump, particularly when she manages to find humor even in the midst of intense competition.

“My entire modus operandi is to have fun,” she tells CNN Sport. “I tend to wander aimlessly and embrace a carefree lifestyle.”

“When I concentrate, I become completely absorbed and unaware of my surroundings.” I do not possess the characteristics typically associated with becoming an athlete. I have a strong inclination to be present in various locations, actively supporting and encouraging my teammates. This has been my consistent approach in this particular sport, as it serves as a source of motivation and sustains my energy levels.

The triumph in Glasgow was perceived as a pivotal occasion for Davis-Woodhall, who had narrowly missed out on capturing the gold medal at the previous year’s world championships.

Subsequently, the 24-year-old athlete had maintained her position at the forefront until Ivana Španović from Serbia achieved the highest leap of the year on her fifth attempt, so securing the gold medal and pushing Davis-Woodhall into second place, earning her the silver medal.

Securing the runner-up position in such a distressing manner was both a mixture of pleasure and pain, however it also played a significant role in shaping one’s character.

“Obtaining second place turned out to be a fortunate outcome,” states Davis-Woodhall. “It demonstrated to me the possibility of exerting greater effort…” I have a strong affection for second place and I highly value the medal that I have received. I want to clarify that my statement should not be misunderstood. However, I possessed a significant amount of gold at a certain moment in that tournament, but it was abruptly taken away from me. This experience made me realize the need of setting a goal that is so extraordinary that it becomes impossible for anyone to deprive me of it again.

It is possible that Davis-Woodhall’s experience has greatly contributed to her impressive performance this year. She has won all four of her long jump events and achieved her personal best at the US indoor championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

And this year presents a perfect opportunity to surpass previous achievements. Davis-Woodhall is now in excellent condition leading up to the Paris Olympics in August, however she approaches the tournament with the same mindset as any other competition – to simply enjoy the occasion.

“Gold is the top priority,” she asserts, “however, my primary objective is to simply enjoy myself.”

Davis-Woodhall appears to be on track to surpass her sixth-place performance in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. She is confident that she has developed both personally and athletically since then.

“I will be 25 years old this year and I am looking forward to embracing a more mature version of myself,” she states. “I have discovered that I experience greater happiness in my current pursuits compared to when I was in Tokyo. In Tokyo, I felt as though I was constantly striving to achieve something, like climbing a ladder.”

“I have now determined my desired location and am pursuing my chosen occupation.” There have been periods of decline or difficulty between the Tokyo Olympics and the present moment. Davis-Woodhall lost her national indoor title last year and received a one-month suspension as a consequence of testing positive for THC, a psychoactive compound present in cannabis, marijuana, and hashish.

While THC is not considered to have performance-enhancing effects, it is classified as a forbidden substance according to the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“I express my gratitude for your support and unwavering loyalty, despite the foolishness of my actions,” Davis-Woodhall stated in her vlog, “Tara and Hunter,” following the announcement of her suspension. “I was foolish,” she appended. “I was not being attentive and careful.”

However, Davis-Woodhall is widely recognized and admired in the world of track and field. Together with her husband, Paralympic sprinter Hunter Woodhall, she has amassed a following of 775,000 followers on YouTube. Their vlog documents their athletic journeys, their romantic partnership, and their achievements in track meets both in the United States and internationally.

Additionally, Davis-Woodhall has secured sponsorship agreements with Celsius, an energy drink company, and Lululemon, a sportswear brand, due to her success. At events, her cowboy hat, albeit not her singing and dancing, makes her easily identifiable.

“It has become an integral part of my personal style,” explains the University of Texas graduate, referring to her now legendary headgear. “Since then, it has continued to be a prominent feature.”