When Hunter Woodhall steps onto the track, there’s a glimmer of confidence in his eyes. Of course, he has no shortage of victories in his stride, but his wins stretch beyond his Paralympic medals. Hunter also comes with a series of World Para Athletics Championship wins under his belt. However, Hunter has been the headline favorite lately, and it is not because of his impressive record on track.

But in fact, because of his resilience, off-track. Hunter was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that left his lower limbs undeveloped. He had to undergo amputation surgery when he was just 11 months old. But as they say, ‘nothing can stop a champion’. Hunter was never slowed down by obstacles along his way. Instead, he paved his path against all odds. Along the way, he met the beloved Olympian Tara-Davis Woodhall.

The Tara Davis-Woodhall-Hunter Woodhall partnership

Hunter and Tara aren’t just partners in sprinting; they are partners in life. They recently came into the limelight after their ecstatic moment of love at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The moment Tara leaped into history, winning the gold medal in the long jump, she had only one person she wanted to share that win with. She ran and jumped into Hunter’s arms. And Hunter’s reaction? Priceless, with him saying, “Babe, you’re the Olympic champion!” The moment was not just Tara’s but theirs!

However, this was no beginning! Their story together dates back to 2017, when both of them were high school students. Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis crossed paths at a high school track meet in Idaho. The rest is history. They made their vows in 2022, sealing their place in history as an Olympian-Paralympian duo. Hunter recently went on to give a glimpse into their partnership. “There’s zero chance that we would be doing what we’re doing if we didn’t have each other. For sure,” he remarked.

Hunter also made it clear that their partnership fuels each other to do better. “Watching Tara in Paris was a really great visualization. So I’m prepared,” he added, building further excitement. Paris Olympics aside, will we soon see a reversal of roles at the upcoming Paralympics? “I’m feeling really good, mentally and physically,” says Hunter. All eyes are on Hunter as he takes to the purple-hued track at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Two days after the opening ceremony on September 1st, the world will see Hunter at the men’s 100m T64 heats. Hunter is no stranger to the Paralympics. He comes with three Paralympic medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Another win in France… Could there be anything better?

What’s next for the Olympian-Paralympian duo?

Hunter’s Paralympic dreams are definitely the first thing on their radar. If Hunter qualifies on September 1st, he’ll return to the Stade de France track on September 2nd for the final. But that’s not all! On September 6th, he’ll compete in the men’s 400m T62. As the Paris Games came to an end, he took it to social media and wrote, “I’m leaving Paris. It has been a crazy two weeks. If you’re watching the Olympics and bummed that the Olympics are over, I’ve got great news for you. The Paralympics are coming up. I’ll be back in two weeks.” He added, “There’s going to be so many incredible stories and athletes, so I really hope you guys watch (the Paralympics).”

Looking at history, it’s safe to say Hunter Woodhall might just create history yet again. Hunter came into the spotlight at the Rio 2016 Games, where he won a silver in the 200m T62 and a bronze in the 400m T62. Not wasting any time, he made it to the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he won another bronze in the 400m T62. Beyond the Paralympics, he has clocked record-breaking times! He has a personal best of 46.22 seconds in the 400m T62 at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. This ranked him among the fastest in his category worldwide. With his blazing speed cutting through the competition like a hot knife through butter, the world is eagerly waiting to see what Hunter brings next to the Paralympics.

Before you leave, check out the latest Think Tank episode on EssentiallySports. Maddisen Skinner’s coach, a renowned name in American volleyball, gives a behind-the-scenes look at his star player.