Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are already big names in the Olympics and Paralympics, and they made an even bigger splash at the 2024 Paris Games. Tara had two standout moments: first, she nailed a 7.10-meter jump on her fourth try in the women’s long jump, grabbing her first Olympic gold medal. But the best part? After winning, she ran straight to the stands and leaped into Hunter’s arms. With a huge grin, he cheered, “You’re the Olympic champion! You did it!”
Tara’s appearance in Paris was her second Olympic Games, but it was her first time standing on the podium. As she chased gold, flashing a beaming smile, Tara fell backward into the sandpit, savoring every moment of that triumphant evening. She then ran into the arms of her Paralympian husband, Hunter Woodhall, the track and field power couple showcasing their deep love.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Sporting her trademark cowboy hat and draped in the American flag, Tara’s flair for showmanship shone brightly. But at the same event. Hunter was her loudest cheerleader. Following Tara’s gold medal performance, it’s now Hunter Woodhall’s turn to chase his own glory. Can he make it? Well, you might be wondering why Hunter is into the Paralympics. So, here it is:
He’ll be competing in the men’s 100-meter T64 and 400-meter T62 events at the Paralympic Games. “I’m feeling really good, mentally and physically. Watching Tara in Paris was a really great visualization. So I’m prepared, “he said about the event.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Meanwhile, Tara is all set to support her husband with the same enthusiasm he showed in Paris. After finishing sixth in Tokyo 2020, Tara’s dream at the Paris Olympics was, “It’s been my life’s goal to be an Olympic gold medalist,” she said. And she did it! Tara added about her husband, “We are two peas in a pod. We are connected at the hip at all times.” She added, “Hugging him and getting into his arms was everything to me.”
Davis-Woodhall has had an outstanding year on the track. She went on to win gold at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and then secured another gold in Paris. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “He’s gone through it all with me. So just jumping into his arms, that was just a full relief of ‘wow, I finally achieved my goal.’”
Meanwhile, Hunter Woodhall is still chasing his first major gold. Born with fibular hemimelia, Hunter became a double amputee, shaping his path as a para-athlete in T61-64 events. His love story with Tara Davis-Woodhall began on the track in high school and has since blossomed into a real-life fairytale.
Hunter Woodhall’s playful tribute to Tara Woodhall’s historic win
A few days after her historic win, Hunter Woodhall shared a playful video of himself wearing Tara’s gold medal. He laughed as he joked about the challenges of being a champion, while off-camera Tara’s laughter echoed as she complimented him. The video, captioned with a nod to their relationship, quickly went viral. The couple met in 2017 at a track meet in Idaho.
At that time, Hunter was living in Utah, and Tara was based in California. Despite the distance, there was an instant spark between them. They were drawn to each other away and eventually started seeing each other again at a different track event. Despite being physically close, at times they managed to make their relationship thrive through effective communication and trust.
In 2021, Hunter made a proposal to Tara on Instagram, and they tied the knot in October 2022 at D’Vine Grace Vineyard in McKinney, Texas. Their deep love and support for each other shone brightly during the Paris Games of 2024, where Tara clinched the gold in the women’s jump while Hunter was working diligently towards his own athletic aspirations, further solidifying their bond.
Have something to say?
Let the world know your perspective.
Debate
Hunter and Tara: The ultimate power couple in sports? What's your take on their inspiring journey?