Woods had always been a keen sportsperson, and after her injury she continued to be active in sports, including wheelchair basketball and swimming. She eventually decided to commit to athletics, stating in a 2011 interview that she made her choice to focus on racing, "because it was hardest". She was first identified as a potential throwing athlete, but switched to racing under the advice of her first coach, Andrew Gill. Gill and woods parted amicably when she was 17, as Gill believed that he had taken her as far as he could and wanted to see Woods progress under another coach. She eventually teamed up with specialist wheelchair coach, Andrew Dawes.