Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The women’s long jump at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest is now an open contest following the withdrawal of world and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall. Davis-Woodhall, who held the world-leading mark of 7.20m set in Los Angeles, is sidelined due to injuries from a recent car collision.
European champion Larissa Iapichino of Italy is among the top contenders. She set a national record of 7.12m this year, secured the European title in Birmingham, earned world indoor silver earlier in the season, and placed second at the Diamond League Final with a jump of 6.86m.
Monae' Nichols of the USA, who recently claimed her first Diamond League title by defeating Iapichino, is viewed as a strong contender. Nichols jumped 6.91m at the Diamond League Final. Another US athlete, Alyssa Jones, posted 7.09m in May, the second-best jump among the athletes entered in Budapest.
Agate de Sousa, the world indoor champion from Portugal, is the only other athlete in the field to have surpassed seven metres recently, with 7.00m during the European Championships qualifying round. That final also saw Jazmin Sawyers (GBR) take silver, Hilary Kpatcha (FRA) bronze, and De Sousa finish fourth. All three are entered to compete in Budapest, joined by Claire Bryant (USA), the 2025 world indoor champion and third at the Diamond League Final.
Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso joins the final eight-woman field after replacing Davis-Woodhall. Koala defeated Iapichino earlier this season, winning in Hengelo with a national record.
With Davis-Woodhall absent, the competition for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Champion title in the women’s long jump looks highly competitive and unpredictable.