Welcome back to From the ‘Court’ to Content! It’s been a while since my last column was posted, so be prepared for 3 columns this week. Anyways, let us dive right into today’s features: The Woodhalls!
Hunter and Tara Davis-Woodhall are both track and field athletes who compete for the United States’ national team. Hunter competes for the US Paralympic Track & Field team and typically races in the 200m and 400m, while Tara competes in the long jump events. The cool thing about them is that they are a married couple!
I first learned about the Woodhalls through TikTok before they even were the Woodhalls.
On each of their respective social media pages, as well as their joint account, they typically post workout videos, vlogs, and day-in-the-lives to give their followers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be an Olympic/Paralympic track star.
For a sport like Track and Field that is not as followed compared to sports like football or basketball, the Woodhalls have certainly drawn in a crowd. They currently have amassed close to 4 million followers and are actively growing.
Whenever I’ve seen one of their videos pop up across my feed, I find it very enjoyable. Both Hunter and Tara are very bubbly people and are very entertaining to watch. No matter if they are racing or making a video, they are very talented at what they are doing.
TikTok has been very favorable for both Hunter and Tara.
Like other athletes who are active on social media, the Woodhalls have been able to draw attention to themselves more than they would have if they stayed off social media.
This past Olympics in Paris, I remember watching the Track and Field events specifically so I could try and catch a glimpse of either of them racing. I don’t really know too much about the sport, but knowing a name like Tara’s interested me.
The Woodhalls’ social media presence is a testament to how crucial being active on social media is for promoting your image and garnering attention from others.
Obviously, there are dangers to social media because of the lack of control and cruel comments robots will leave behind, but there are many positives, too.
The right side of social media is actually a very fun place. There, the content is targeted towards a specific audience and is very easy to comprehend. Nothing is posted with the idea of causing controversy; instead, it’s posted to be promotional and educational.
In the Woodhalls’ case, their content is meant to draw people to the sport of Track and Field, while also helping up-and-coming athletes get to know the ins and outs of the sport. Hunter and Tara have made a career out of their social media activity, and other athletes should take notes on what they can do to be more like the Woodhalls.
