Too slow. Too different. Hunter Woodhall has spent his life proving people wrong. Born without fibulas, he was told he’d never walk or run. Still, he sprinted past those expectations, earned a Division I track scholarship, won Paralympic medals, and built a global following. But still, the fight is far from over. Now this time it isn’t his alone! For the first time, the USATF Para National Championships will take place alongside the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. This event is more than a meet. It’s a statement. This is a groundbreaking moment, right? But sadly not for everyone!

One social media influencer took a shocking stance and mocked it. The influencer chose to ridicule this historic decision. His comments oozed sarcasm, hinting that para-athletes didn’t belong on the same track. Hunter Woodhall, however, wasn’t about to let this slide. How did he respond?

Woodhall took to Instagram a few hours back and made a post, which read, “Maybe disabled people don’t deal with enough struggles. We should make sure they feel like they don’t belong around other able-bodied athletes. People make me sick, but at least they’re talking about it. Hunter Woodhall wasn’t having it. “I do not do drama on the internet, but I had to speak up about this one, bring out the big guns. You might have seen—for the first time in history—the Olympic and Paralympic trials are going to be in the same place at the same time. Although this is historic and feels like a huge step towards inclusion, not everyone had good things to say, said Paris Paralympic gold medalist.

Continuing further, he said, “His idea of progressing the sport is ganging up on people with disabilities and trying to create more separation and hate. I don’t think he’s going to listen to logic.” Woodhall’s words came in response to the influencer’s claim that having a combined event won’t do a “single thing for the sport.” The said influencer even went on to say, “Nobody in the track community is jumping up and down to see para athletes compete.” Thus it was very natural for Hunter Woodhall to take a strong stance!

And Hunter did so by listing some solid facts: “We built a community of over 8M people who are now able to see what’s going on within the sport……We won two golds (Tara & Hunter)… there’s 70,000 people watching me compete….we’ve been able to bring so many brands into the sports who never tapped it..” Thus, Hunter Woodhall is very clear and urged fans, “Hayward Field holds 13,000 seats. Let’s sell that thing out…” for the USATF Para Nationals, July 31–Aug 4.

The American sprinter, already a viral sensation for celebrating his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall’s Olympic long jump gold, has dominated the track himself. But he isn’t ’just a champion, as he has also been a voice for change, using his platform to push for greater recognition of para-athletics on the world stage. And thus the move by USATF meant so much for him.

Hunter Woodhall Gets Emotional as USATF Para Nationals Joins Outdoor Championships in Historic Move

For the first time in history, the US Paralympic Trials and the Able-Bodied Championships will take place under the same roof—a moment that left Hunter Woodhall in tears. Can you blame him? This is more than just a scheduling change. Woodhall, who last competed at the same championship as able-bodied athletes 6 years ago during his college days, took to Instagram to share the news alongside a video he posted, which had his wife Tara Davis-Woodhall sharing the news.

Woodhall posted four days ago, “For the first time in history. US Paralympic Trials and Able Body Champs will be under the same roof. We haven’t competed at the same championship since 2019 in college. Unbelievably grateful, see you all in Eugene. Time to make history. Thank you @teamusa @usatf @tracktownusa for making it happen.”

The Paralympian has never shied away from pushing boundaries, both on and off the track. And now? The stage is set for him and also countless others to prove, once again, that elite competition knows no limits!