Hunter Woodhall’s journey to Paralympic gold is a tale of triumph and heartache. As he powered through the final stretch of the 400m T62 race at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Woodhall wasn’t just running for glory. Rather, winning the race was important to him for something deeply personal. That single reason was enough for him to pull away from his fiercest competitors, including Olivier Hendriks of the Netherlands and Germany’s Johannes Floors. In his third appearance in the game, Hunter crossed the finish line as a Paralympic champion and the win holds a special place in his heart.

Before Hunter Woodhall celebrated his first birthday, both his legs were amputated as he was born with a fused right ankle and fibular hemimelia. Displaying ultimate athleticism and grit, Woodhall pulled away in the last 60 meters, securing his gold medal. But this victory was more than just a win on the track. At the end of the finish line, Woodhall revealed that his win was a tribute to his late uncle, Wyatt, who left his earthly abode in 2021.

After the race, Hunter Woodhall celebrated his victory by taking off his WOODHALL name tag and flexing for the camera. But in the very next minute, the moment was not just about this win. His race bib, when flipped, revealed a message, “Wyatt Woodhall, this one is for you.” Hunter Woodhall, who himself defied all odds to become one of the most inspiring athletes of his generation, did not forget to honor the man who had been an immense source of inspiration for him. Woodhall’s Uncle Wyatt passed away from cancer in 2021, but memory fueled Hunter’s drive to succeed. Talking about the guiding force, Hunter Woodhall described his uncle Wyatt as “the most selfless person [he’s] ever met”.

Besides dedicating his win to his uncle, Woodhall had another person to run to, who cheered for his victory from the stands and has been his ultimate support system. 

Hunter Woodhall expresses gratitude to the ones who helped him rise after emotional Paralympics victory

Yes, you guessed it right. As the crowd continued to roar, Woodhall quickly shifted his focus to the stands. He ran towards the stands and did what the world was waiting to witness. Hunter hugged his wife, Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall, who waited with open arms. They embraced each other to celebrate the dream summer that they had been having in the city of love.

After the 400-meter T62 victory, the Paralympics champion’s heart is full of gratitude as he shoulders the gold medal. Finishing with a time of 46.32 seconds, Hunter Woodhall did not forget to thank his team who stood in the stands cheering loudly celebrating his victory. “I have the best team in the world…couldn’t have done it without them”.

Moreover, Woodhall also expressed gratitude to the medical institution that helped Hunter to stand on the podium. It is the place that helped him “get back to the young man” that Woodhall is at the moment. Referring to the staff of the Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City, Woodhall said, “This gold is as much mine as yours”. He also stated that he is soon going to visit them to express her heartfelt gratitude to the Shriners Hospital. “That’s one of the first things Tara and I planned, going back to Salt Lake City Hospital. Seeing all you guys. And now we’re bringing two gold medals, baby”, stated the Paralympics gold medalist.