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Hunter Woodhall wins Paralympic gold after his wife Tara’s Olympic gold medal

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Hunter Woodhall wins Paralympic gold after his wife Tara’s Olympic gold medal

Gabriel Jackson
| Special to USA TODAY

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SAINT-DENIS, France – Hunter Woodhall leaned forward, his eyes on the finish line at the Stade de France.

It wasn’t just another race. It was the culmination of years of tireless training, a fateful moment. As he surged forward in the final sprint of the men’s 400m (Class 62) on Friday, crossing the finish line in 46.36 seconds, Woodhall felt the weight of his journey lift from him, replaced by the overwhelming joy of winning a Paralympic gold medal.

“This is my first gold medal, my first major championship win and it couldn’t have been better,” said Woodhall after the race.

REGARD: Hunter Woodhall wins gold for the US team at the Paralympics in Paris

Not only did he compete with the best Paralympic sprinters in the world, he dominated them. Woodhall finished the race strongly and widened the gap between himself and the other runners on the final sprint leg.

“We went through this race over and over again,” explained the 25-year-old, who had both legs amputated. “I wrote down in my diary exactly how I wanted to run this race. And that’s exactly how it went.”

“The strategy was to get going right away and run as relaxed as possible because I knew the last 100 meters would be crucial.”

How to create a champion

Woodhall’s path to the top was fraught with challenges.

He was born with fibular hemimelia, a congenital condition in which the fibula is either shortened or missing. When Woodhall was 11 months old, both of his legs were amputated to improve his long-term quality of life.

He became a successful high school and college athlete, breaking records and making history along the way.

His breakthrough on the international stage came at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where he won bronze in the 400 metres and silver in the 200 metres.

As the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics approached, he was able to add another bronze medal in the 400-meter race to his growing collection, but something was still missing – a gold medal.

Paris was the stage where Woodhall tested his limits and ultimately secured the top spot on the podium. He also won a bronze medal as part of the US team’s 4×100-meter universal relay.

MORE: Tara Davis-Woodhall’s husband Hunter writes a heartfelt message. “You inspire me every day”

“I brought my diary with me in the last few days,” said Woodhall. “I wrote in it: ‘I will be a Paralympic champion.'”

“And now it’s true.”

The Power of Two

Woodhall got the idea for diary writing from his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic gold medalist.

Tara, another track and field star, recently won gold in the long jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 7.10-meter leap. Together they form one of the most exciting power couples in sport.

“Tara taught me a lot, and one of them was the power of self-affirmation and journaling,” Woodhall said. “Before the Olympics, she wrote in her journal, ‘I’m going to be an Olympic champion and I’m strong and fast.’ And I took that with me.”

The two met at a track and field competition and immediately formed a close bond that grew stronger throughout their athletic careers. Although they attended different universities – Woodhall in Arkansas and Davis-Woodhall in Texas – they remained steadfast in their support and handled the pressures of elite competition. The couple married in 2022 and now train side by side, each pushing the other to new heights.

Training with an Olympic gold medalist brings its own kind of pressure, but that pressure is something Woodhall enjoys. He says he likes having the diver running alongside him on the starting blocks during training.

“Tara is incredible,” Woodhall said. “She’s my accountability partner, my training partner and my best friend. We do it all together, and there have been a lot of ups and downs over the last four years, but we’ve gotten through them as a team.”

While their relationship is personal, it is also a crucial part of their professional success. Their mutual understanding of the demands of competing at the highest level has allowed them to build a support system that few athletes enjoy.

Davis-Woodhall said she barely looked at or acknowledged her own gold medal until her husband had the chance to secure his own. Now the two can wear it together for the rest of their lives, because they will be champions forever.

“I mean, I’m pretty sure we both wrote down our goals for the year, which were Paralympic and Olympic gold, and we haven’t stopped working towards it since,” Davis-Woodhall said. “It’s honestly been the craziest journey of our lives. And now we get to look back on it every day.”

Beyond the track

Outside of the oval track, Woodhall and Davis-Woodhall have become inspirational voices. Their openness about their journey, both the victories and the setbacks, has resonated with a wide audience. On social media, they provide insights into their training, competitions and personal lives, making the world of sport and gold medals more tangible.

Their message of perseverance and hard work has inspired thousands of young athletes. But it’s not just about motivation – the pair are also deeply committed to promoting greater inclusion and representation in sport. As prominent figures in their respective fields, they have used their platforms to challenge outdated notions of disability and promote diversity in sport.

“I think there’s always a pressure to perform,” Woodhall said of running for his fans. “That’s just what athletics is about. It’s heartbreaking. It’s tough. You never know what’s going to happen. But I just wanted to put on a show for everyone who supports me. I knew how many people follow the Paralympics… I just wanted to show them what the Paralympics is about, what we’re capable of. And the response has been incredible.”

Together, the Woodhalls are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be an elite athlete. With the Paralympics and Olympics ahead, their journey continues to inspire a new generation of athletes – both with and without disabilities.

The question is no longer whether the Woodhalls can win together, but how long they can stay at the top of the podium.

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