Hunter Woodhall found an extraordinary source of motivation at this year’s Paralympic Games, just as his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall soared to Olympic glory in Paris. The 25-year-old clinched his first Paralympic gold medal in the 400m T62 on Friday, finishing with a time of 46.36 seconds. He crossed the line ahead of Germany’s Johannes Floors and the Netherlands’ Olivier Hendriks, who took silver and bronze.
After his victory, Woodhall sprinted through the Stade de France to find his wife in the stands. Reflecting on the surreal experience of winning gold alongside his wife, Woodhall quipped, “I’m waiting to wake up.” He praised his support team, saying, “I have the best team in the world. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Previously, Woodhall had traveled to Paris to support Davis-Woodhall, celebrating her long-jump gold medal with an emotional embrace at the stadium. “It was incredible, so surreal. I’ve never wanted something so badly for somebody else,” Woodhall told CNN Sport before heading to the Games.
The couple, who met at a high school track meet in 2017 and married five years later, have built a strong partnership both on and off the track. They train together, share a diet, and have cultivated a significant social media presence with over 866,000 YouTube subscribers.
Paris marked Woodhall’s third Paralympic appearance. After winning bronze and silver in Rio 2016 and another bronze in Tokyo, he was determined to achieve gold in Paris. “This has been the most consistent I’ve ever been. I’m running the best I’ve ever run,” he noted ahead of the Games.
In addition to his gold medal performance, Woodhall competed in the 100m T64 in Paris, finishing sixth with a time of 10.96 seconds. Costa Rica’s Sherman Isidro Guity set a Paralympic record with 10.65 seconds, while Italy’s Maxcel Amo Manu and Germany’s Felix Streng secured silver and bronze.
Woodhall’s journey to this point has been far from easy. Born with a fused right ankle and fibular hemimelia, he had both legs amputated below the knees before his first birthday. Despite these challenges, he defied expectations by excelling in sports. Initially homeschooled, Woodhall struggled with bullying when he entered public school but found solace and purpose in track and field.
“Track and field was my escape. It was just me versus the clock,” he explained. “All those years of dedication paid off, and now I’m where I am today.”
As one of the prominent faces of the Games, Woodhall aims to elevate the profile of the Paralympics and inspire others, embracing the opportunity to spotlight the sport he loves.
Hunter Woodhall stormed to victory in the T62 400m at the Paralympics in Paris, a month after his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall won Olympic long jump gold.
Woodhall clocked an impressive 46.36 seconds at the Stade de France, surpassing world record holder Johannes Floors of Germany and the Netherlands’ Olivier Hendriks.
The 25-year-old’s moment of triumph was marked by an emotional embrace with his wife Tara, who had cheered him on from the stands. This heartfelt celebration mirrored the role reversal from August, when Tara had taken the gold in the same venue.
“I’m overwhelmed with emotions right now. It’s just incredible,” Woodhall said. “I’ve waited so long for this moment and faced so much stress and worry to achieve it. This victory is a testament to aiming high and setting big goals.”
This gold medal is Woodhall’s first in his Paralympic career, following a bronze in the same event at Tokyo.
Reflecting on the win, he shared, “This is my first major championship gold, and I couldn’t have chosen a better one. Tara has been a huge inspiration. Before the Olympics, she wrote in her journal: ‘I will be the Olympic champion, I am strong, I am fast.’ I brought my own journal and for the past few days, I’ve been writing: ‘I will be Paralympic champion,’ and now it’s come true.”
Tara, brimming with pride, commented, “I was so nervous and excited, knowing how much this meant to him and seeing how ready he was. Now he’s achieved his dream. We’ve both won gold, and we’ll cherish these victories for the rest of our lives.”
Earlier in the Games, Woodhall finished sixth in the T64 100m but regarded the 400m as his strongest event. Meanwhile, Tara had secured her Olympic gold with a jump of 7.10m, surpassing Germany’s Malaika Mihambo and fellow American Jasmine Moore.
Hunter Woodhall Sprinter wins gold at Paralympics after wife won gold medal at Paris Olympics
American track and field stars Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall have become a gold medal-winning duo, showcasing their prowess on the global stage.
Hunter Woodhall clinched gold in the men’s 400m T62 race at the 2024 Paris Paralympics on Friday, mirroring the achievement of his wife Tara, who won gold in the women’s long jump at the Paris Olympics in August.
Earlier on Friday, Woodhall crossed the finish line first, outpacing Germany’s Johannes Floors and the Netherlands’ Olivier Hendriks, who took silver and bronze, respectively, as reported by the Paris Paralympic Games’ website.
After his victory, Woodhall celebrated with the U.S. flag, marking his fifth Paralympic medal. In addition to his recent gold, he has previously secured two bronze medals and a silver from the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics, according to the International Paralympic Committee.
That same day, Woodhall also contributed to the U.S. team’s bronze medal win in the mixed 4x100m universal relay.
Woodhall and Davis-Woodhall, who tied the knot in 2022, captured hearts at the Paris Olympics with their touching celebration of Tara’s first Olympic gold. The couple’s emotional moment went viral, highlighting their journey together.
The pair first met at a high school track meet and both competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Tara Davis-Woodhall continued her athletic career at the University of Georgia before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her college career in 2021.
