Hunter Woodhall is officially a Paralympic champion! The 25-year-old track contestant added a new medal to his collection as he took home his first gold medal for an incredible performance in the Men's 400m T62.
Photos showed the couple sharing an intimate moment of celebration, and once he'd received his medal, Hunter returned to his wife where they shared a passionate kiss for the triumphant moment.
The athletic power couple may need to invest in a bigger medal cabinet as Hunter is yet to perform in the 100m. Already, Hunter has three bronze medals and a silver from his prior efforts at the games in 2016 and 2020.
While he doesn't have a Paralympic medal for his previous 100m experiences, he received two silver medals in the World Championships this year for the category.
Hunter's parents decided to amputate both his legs when he was 11 months old due to fibular hemimelia.
Notably, Hunter and Tara's relationship caught the attention of many when the Paralympic athlete enthusiastically celebrated his wife's victory in the Olympic long jump finals.
"You're the Olympic champion!" He yelled as she jumped into his arms and he caught her with ease. "I'm so proud of you," he added in the moment that went viral online. Hunter wore a white t-shirt with the words "TEAM TARA" emblazoned, to prove that he was his wife's biggest fan.
Ahead of his performance at the Paralympics, Hunter revealed that his wife's own victory certainly helped him in preparing for the event.
"Watching Tara in Paris was a really great visualization. So I'm prepared," he told NBC News. The athlete revealed that he felt the couple's career success came down to their support for one another as he said: "There's zero chance that we would be doing what we're doing if we didn't have each other."
The couple met at a track meet in Pocatello, Idaho while they were both in high school and it was love at first sight. Before they even talked, Tara felt a pull towards her future husband as she approached him and hugged him.
"I stepped onto the track and said, 'I don't know why I have to do this, but I have to give you a hug,'" Tara explained.
Hunter said that he remembered thinking "I'm gonna marry that girl."
Hunter Woodhall Reflects on His Victory and the Unwavering Support of Tara Davis-Woodhall
Their celebration, her in the stands tearfully hugging him on the track, mirrored one that had captured the world a month earlier when she had sealed an Olympic gold medal in the women’s long jump and then launched herself into his arms while he was in the stands, overwhelmed with joy.
"I remember just hearing the crowd roar, and looking back at my family, at Tara, my team and just to see the joy they had in that moment, I had to go share it with them," Woodhall told CNN’s Don Riddell of the moment when he sealed his maiden Paralympic gold medal on Friday.
Seeing his wife win her Olympic title a month earlier instilled a confidence in him that he too could win a gold medal in Paris – the goal he had been working towards for so long after winning a silver aged just 17 in Rio in 2016 and two bronzes in Tokyo three years ago.
"I know that we do the same things, we train together, we eat together, we recover the same way," he said. "Seeing Tara go out there and absolutely dominate, it gave me such confidence to say I know we’ve done the same thing, and she’s able to go out there and do that then I know I’m capable of doing the same thing."
The couple were careful not to over-celebrate Davis-Woodhall’s Olympic gold medal at the time, given that their goal was only half-complete with Woodhall still yet to compete at the Paralympics.
"What she did was so incredible but trying not too put too much time and mental energy into it because we knew we had something else," he said. "It takes somebody who is really genuine and thoughtful to be able to do that and such a sacrifice and such a humility, I’m really grateful."
Finally able to relax completely when the sprinter won his Paralympic title too, the couple’s celebrations spilled out onto the track as Woodhall picked his wife up and they spun around together, laughing as she punched the air.
"Me and Tara, we could sit on the porch and watch sunsets every day, we love just being around each other, spending time together, we just work together," he said.
"We communicate so much and we know that neither of us are perfect but we know that we make each other better," he added. "We just have a lot of fun."
Hunter Woodhall's Incredible Journey to Paralympic Gold
Such celebrations come loaded with almost every conceivable emotion, being a commemoration of each athlete’s specific journey to the Games. Woodhall was born with a fused right ankle and a condition called fibular hemimelia, which affected his left leg. Just before he turned one, he had both his legs amputated from the knees down.
"I got my first pair of prosthetics at 15 months, so I started with the cards stacked against me a little bit," he said. "I remember my dad instilling in me that: ‘Hey, you’re always going to be different and that’s not something you can change but what’s important is that you know who you are, and you understand your value.’
"Everyone has burdens and challenges that we deal with and in a funny way I’m grateful that I kind of dealt with some of my biggest challenges early in life and it taught me to overcome and be grateful for these opportunities, and these really special moments that we get in life."
When asked to imagine talking to his younger self with his Paralympic gold medal around his neck, Woodhall became emotional, saying: "I would tell him how special he is and how cool it is to be different."
"I’d tell him to believe in himself," he added, nodding his head as his voice broke.
Sharing the Joy of Victory
Hunter Woodhall won gold in the men’s 400m T62 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics on Friday. After crossing the line, Woodhall kept running to find his wife in the crowd at the Stade de France.
Woodhall found Olympic champion long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall and the two shared a long embrace.
The pair are now both gold medal winners this summer in Paris. Last month, Davis-Woodhall finished first in the women’s long jump at the 2024 Summer Games.
When asked about how it felt to win gold along with his wife, Woodhall joked that he was “waiting to wake up.”
"I have the best team in the world," Woodhall told the NBC broadcast. "Best team in the world. I couldn’t have done it without them."
Woodhall was born with a fused right ankle and a condition called fibular hemimelia, which affected his left leg. Just before he turned one, he had both his legs amputated from the knees down.
Woodhall thanked Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City for helping him achieve his goal.
"This gold is as much mine as yours," Woodhall said.
"That’s one of the first things Tara (Davis-Woodhall) and I planned, going back to Salt Lake City Hospital, seeing all you guys and now we are bringing back two gold medals baby."
A Love Story That Inspires
This power couple, who have been inseparable since their high school track days, have now achieved gold medal glory on the world stage, embodying the extraordinary blend of personal and professional triumph.
Hunter Woodhall's gold medal victory in the men’s 400M T62 race at the Paris Paralympics on September 6 was a moment of sheer brilliance.
Woodhall, renowned for his tenacity and speed, surged to the finish line ahead of Germany’s Johannes Floors and the Netherlands’ Olivier Hendriks.
This marked his fifth career Paralympic medal, complementing his previous accolades of two bronze medals and a silver.
Later, Woodhall contributed to a US bronze in the mixed 4x100m universal relay, further showcasing his versatile talent.
In August, Tara Davis-Woodhall made her own mark at the Paris Olympics, winning gold in the women’s long jump.
Her victory was especially poignant, as it was her first Olympic medal and a testament to her incredible skill and perseverance.
The emotional celebration shared with Hunter, who was in the stands, highlighted their deep connection and mutual support.
The couple’s journey from high school sweethearts to Olympic and Paralympic champions is a moving story of love and determination.
Their shared successes at the Paris Games have not only brought them personal fulfillment but have also inspired countless fans around the world.
Hunter and Tara Davis-Woodhall’s story is a powerful reminder that love and dedication can fuel extraordinary achievements on and off the track.
