by SAINT-DENIS, France — Hunter Woodhall leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the finish line at the Stade de France.
This was no ordinary race. It was the culmination of years of hard training, a moment of destiny. As he charged into the final strides of the men’s T62 400m sprint on Friday, crossing the line in 46.36 seconds, Woodhall felt the weight of his journey lift, replaced by the overwhelming thrill of winning a Paralympic gold medal.
“It’s my first gold medal, it’s my first time winning a major championship, and they couldn’t have picked a better choice,” Woodhall said after the race.
WATCH: Hunter Woodhall wins gold for Team USA at Paris Paralympics
Not only did he compete with the world’s best Paralympic sprinters, he dominated the race. Woodhall finished the race strongly, increasing the gap between himself and the other runners in the final sprint stage.
“We’ve been thinking about this race over and over again,” the 25-year-old double amputee said. “I wrote in my journal exactly how I wanted to run this race. That’s exactly how it happened.”
“The strategy was to get out of the blocks and run as calmly as possible, because I knew that everything would be decided in the last 100 meters.”
The Creation of a Champion
Woodhall’s journey to the top has been accompanied by many challenges.
He was born with fibular hemimelia, a congenital condition in which the fibula bone is either short 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 athlete in high school and college, breaking records and making history along the way.
His breakthrough moment on the international stage came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he won bronze in the 400 metres and silver in the 200 metres.
By the time of the Tokyo Paralympics, postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID pandemic, he had added another 400 bronze to his growing collection, but there was still something missing: a gold medal.
It was in Paris that Woodhall was able to complete his series, pushing his limits and ultimately taking the top spot on the podium. He also won a bronze medal as part of the U.S. 4×100 relay team.
MORE: Tara Davis-Woodhall’s Husband Hunter Writes Heartfelt Message: ‘You Inspire Me Every Day’
“I’ve been carrying my journal around for the last few days,” Woodhall said. “I wrote in it, ‘I’m going to be a Paralympic champion.'”
“And now it’s true.”
The power of two
Journaling is an idea Woodhall borrowed from his wife, Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall.
Also a track and field star, Tara won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 7.10-meter long jump on August 8. Together, they form one of the most powerful couples in the sport.
“Tara taught me a lot, including the power of self-affirmation and journaling,” Woodhall said. “Before the Olympics, she would write in her journal, ‘I will be the Olympic champion, I am strong and fast.’ And I took that with me.”
The two met at a track meet and formed an immediate bond that grew stronger as their athletic careers progressed. Despite attending different universities—Woodhall in Arkansas and Davis-Woodhall in Texas—they remained steadfast in their support of each other, overcoming the pressures of elite competition. The couple married in 2022 and today, they train side by side, each pushing the other to new heights.
Training with an Olympic gold medallist brings its own set of pressures, but it’s a pressure Woodhall thrives on, saying he enjoys having the jumper running alongside him on the blocks in training.
“Tara is incredible,” Woodhall said. “She’s my accountability partner, my training partner and my best friend. We do it all together, and over the last four years there have been a lot of trials and tribulations, but we’ve overcome them as a team.”
Their relationship, while personal, is a crucial part of their professional success. Their mutual understanding of the demands of competing at the highest level has allowed them to create a support system that few athletes enjoy.
Davis-Woodhall said she rarely looked at or acknowledged her own gold medal until her husband had the chance to win his. Now they will be able to wear them together for the rest of their lives because they will forever be champions.
“I’m pretty sure we both wrote down our goals for the year, which were Paralympic gold and Olympic gold, and we haven’t stopped working since,” Davis-Woodhall said. “Honestly, it’s been the craziest journey of our entire lives. And now we get to reflect on it every day.”
Beyond the track
Off the oval track, Woodhall and Davis-Woodhall have become inspiring voices. Their transparency about their journey, both the victories and the setbacks, has resonated with a wide audience. On social media, they share glimpses into their training, competitions and personal lives, making the world of track and field and gold medals more accessible.
Their message of perseverance and hard work has inspired thousands of young athletes. But it’s not just about motivation: the couple is also deeply committed to advocating for greater inclusion and representation in sport. As prominent figures in their respective fields, they have used their platforms to challenge outdated perceptions of disability and promote diversity in sport.
“I think there’s always pressure to perform,” Woodhall said of racing for his fans. “That’s what athletics is all about. It’s heartbreaking. It’s tough. You never know what’s going to happen. But for me, I just wanted to put on a show for everyone who’s supporting me. I knew how many people were watching the Paralympics… I really wanted to show them what the Paralympics are all 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 a high-performance athlete. As they look ahead to future Paralympic and Olympic Games, their journey continues to inspire a new generation of athletes, both disabled and able-bodied.
The question is no longer whether the Woodhalls can win together, but how long they can stay on the top step of the podium.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Woodhall wins Paralympic gold after wife Tara’s Olympic gold
