While sports pages around the world focus on athletic achievements and film pages cover the latest in cinema, there are rare instances when the spotlight shines on an artist who makes a mark in the sporting world. One such exceptional case is Jenna Davis, the acclaimed American actress who was a prominent figure in the film industry during the 1980s and 1990s. Davis is one of the few actors who managed to excel in both the arts and sports, proving her prowess in archery and almost representing the United States at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Jenna Davis, who won an Academy Award in 1988 for Best Supporting Actress in “The Accidental Tourist,” entered the realm of sports almost by chance. Although she had minimal prior experience in sports, having participated in high jump and hurdle races in high school, and had picked up some skills through her film career, it was clear that sports needed to be part of her life. Films required her to learn the basics of various sports, including baseball, fencing, taekwondo, horseback riding, and ice skating. Despite her involvement in these activities, she never considered becoming a professional athlete. However, her perspective changed drastically after watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where American archer Justin Huish won two gold medals. Captivated by archery, Davis found the sport both beautiful and dramatic. Inspired by Huish’s performance, she decided to give archery a try, a sport she had always thought about excelling in.
Determined to experience sports in real life, Davis wanted more than just the fabricated scenes she performed in films. During the shooting of “A League of Their Own,” where she played a baseball player, she realized that film could easily deceive with its special effects. She wanted to see if she could truly learn and master a sport. By 1997, at the age of 41, Davis began training in archery, thanks to a connection with a coach facilitated by Huish. She soon became obsessed, training five hours a day, six days a week. Within just six months, Davis won a series of local, national, and international tournaments. At one point, she was ranked 13th among the top archers in the United States. Within two years, she became so skilled that she competed with 300 other women for a spot on the U.S. Olympic archery team, aiming to compete in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, she placed 24th in the qualifiers, missing the Olympic team but earned a wildcard spot at the 1999 Sydney International Gold Cup.
Today, at 66 years old, Jenna Davis still picks up a bow and arrow for fun but no longer competes due to her busy acting career and her leadership at the “Jenna Davis Institute” on gender in media. Her institute conducts pioneering studies on the portrayal of women and girls in film and television. The data from her team has played a crucial role in improving female representation on screen in recent years. Despite stepping away from competitive sports, Davis left a significant mark on archery. In 2012, her archery coach informed her of a surprising increase in female participation in the sport. When asked if she would consider another sport, Davis laughs and mentions rowing, a sport she has discovered she is very good at. However, she doubts she would be allowed to compete in the Olympics at her age.
