When Jordan Davis, ’24, emerged from a serious car crash that resulted in a broken femur, a rod, and 13 screws in his shattered leg seven years ago, it was a turning point that cast doubt on his future athletic career in football and track and field.
“It kind of left me in a place of uncertainty,” said Davis. “It really gives you a different perspective on life, makes you not take anything for granted.”
Now, in a viral moment, Davis achieved a remarkable feat at the Texas Relays by breaking the NCAA Division II national record in the javelin throw. His throw of 83.77m was not only the best throw by any U.S. collegiate athlete but also made him the fifth-best performer in collegiate history. Now, Davis’ impressive performance has put him on the radar for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A high school football standout from Wallingford, Conn., Davis credits family for his deep ties to sports, being the youngest of four brothers who were all athletes; his oldest brother was a Division I baseball player, another brother excelled in multiple sports, and his third brother was a high school football legend.
“I was born into sports… it was obviously a choice, but it really wasn’t,” said Davis.
It was that car accident that provided a moment of uncertainty, forcing Jordan to reconsider his path and priorities.
On March 16, 2018, Davis and his best friend and teammate, Tre Childers, were returning from a football meeting at Sheehan High School. Less than a mile from the school, Davis struck a bump, lost control of his car, and partially wrapped his vehicle around a tree.
“I didn’t know how I was going to recover. I had a rod with 13 screws going up my leg, so I didn’t know how it was going to feel if I was going to be able to move the same, if I was going to be able to react the same. And just have that confidence in myself and my ability again.”
Nevertheless, with strong community and family support, he managed to turn this setback into a source of renewed strength and motivation. He reflected on this experience as a “blessing in disguise,” which helped him become more confident and mentally resilient.
Davis initially balanced football and track and field during his college years but made a pivotal decision to focus solely on javelin throwing after his accident, subsequently winning the State Open in 2019.
This shift was influenced by his growing passion for track and field, coupled with the realistic prospect of competing in the Olympics — an opportunity underscored by his family’s support and discussions about the significance of the Olympic year. He described this transition as both necessary and emotionally challenging, given his lifelong engagement with football.
“We knew that if I committed to it, there’s a chance, and after talking with my family through the summer, we came to the decision that we’re gonna go for it and we’re gonna see what it takes,” said Davis.
Dan Labbadia, ’21, who threw the javelin for SCSU while he was a student, decided to become his teammate’s coach after graduating, and together, they have been working hard to achieve their goals.
“It was unreal,” Labbadia said in an interview with the Hartford Courant. “To see Jordan go from a 63-meter thrower to an 83-meter thrower is just crazy. He really took it seriously this past year, and I took my coaching more seriously.”
This summer, after he graduates with a degree in business management, Davis will focus on qualifying for the Paris Olympics in Eugene, Oregon, navigating the complex selection process that involves accumulating points at ranked meets, and potentially securing a spot through the track and field trials. Presently, the Olympic standard for automatic qualifying in the javelin throw is 85.5 meters.
“I think it’s a cool opportunity to try and thrive and be a standout,” said Davis. “But I just think it’s an awesome opportunity that I was able to get and gonna get to do. That’s what you really asked for in these in track is these big meets and these big names to go against and see what they do different, too.”
Davis has not only demonstrated exceptional athletic skills but also an admirable character off the field. His coach, John Wallin, who has been closely involved in his development for the past four years, credits his impressive qualities beyond his athletic prowess.
“Whether it is in the weight room, or traveling to faraway track meets, Jordan has always impressed me not only with his tremendous work ethic and confidence but also his high level of integrity,” said Wallin. “As a mentor and guide for Jordan, I try to always keep him grounded, focused on his long-term goals, and always mindful of who he is representing.”
