Hunter Woodhall, a 25-year-old U.S. sprinter, most recently secured his first Paralympic gold medal in the 400m T62 at the Paris Games. His victory, with a time of 46.36 seconds, followed his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall’s win as the Olympic long-jump champion just a few weeks earlier.
However, it wasn’t just their gold-medal winning performances that stole the hearts of spectators and fans around the world. The couple’s celebration of each other’s successes dubbed them the power couple of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
After crossing the finish line, Woodhall immediately ran to the stands to share the moment with his wife. Just weeks before, he shared that exact same experience with Davis-Woodhall, but on the other side of the barriers, as she had her golden moment.
He had supported his wife at the Olympics and was the first to celebrate with her when she claimed gold, an experience he described as “surreal.”
Reflecting on his achievement, Woodhall said, “I have the best team in the world. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The couple’s relationship began at a high school track meet in 2017 and culminated in their marriage five years later. Their achievements and “#couplegoals” have gained them over 866,000 YouTube subscribers who follow their journey.
Woodhall’s gold in Paris was the result of years of hard work. While he had previously earned silver and bronze at the 2016 and 2021 Paralympic Games, the top prize had remained out of reach—until now.
In preparation for these Games, he said to CNN, “Every single day this year, we’ve just tried to do the right things. This is what we train for. Nothing is guaranteed in sports, in athletics anything can happen. So when it actually does go the way that you plan it to, and you just have that moment of relief, it’s surreal. It was a really special moment.”
Born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that led to the amputation of both his legs below the knee, Woodhall has overcome countless challenges. From his early years being homeschooled to finding his way in public school, where he first encountered bullying, track and field became his outlet. He discovered solace in the sport, which allowed him to focus on personal improvement and growth.
After a slow start in middle school track, Woodhall’s persistence paid off, leading to a successful high school career and his rise as a top para sprinter. He’s now one of the most prominent athletes of the Paralympic Games, using his platform to draw attention to the sport.
In addition to his 400m win, Woodhall competed in the 100m T64, finishing sixth, and earned a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay, where China and Great Britain took gold and silver, respectively.
