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The Woodhalls are now both gold medalists.
On Friday, September 6, Hunter Woodhall took home the gold medal in the men's 400m race at the 2024 Paralympic Games, just weeks after his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall, took home her first gold medal in the women's long jump during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
To win his first gold medal, Hunter beat Germany's Johannes Floors and Netherlands' Olivier Hendriks. The first-place finish marks his fourth medal in total at the Games, after winning two bronze medals and one silver at the 2020 and 2016 Paralympics.
After crossing the finish line, he made sure to immediately run into the crowd and hug his wife, mimicking the way she ran straight to him after winning the long jump. To celebrate her husband's win, Tara posted a photo of them on her Instagram story with a caption on the screen that read, “W's only baby.”
She also edited one of her previous Instagram posts of the pair after Hunter placed sixth in the 100m race. “One last lap,” the original caption read. “This is your race! Do it for you.” After her win, Tara made sure to update the post to read, “EDIT! HE WON GOLD!”
After the race, Hunter also made sure to show the camera the back of his race number, revealing a message he wrote for his late uncle, who died of cancer in 2021. “Wyatt Woodhall, this one’s for you,” the number read.
Many fans took to social media, where they showered praise on the fact that both Olympic track and field athletes won gold medals in the same year. “A few months ago I didn’t know who he or his wife were. Now I love them with all my heart,” read one comment on Instagram.
Another commenter agreed, writing: “I cried tears of joy watching this race! Congratulations, Hunter! All your hard work and training paid off in the most satisfying way possible! Well done, golden couple! Thanks for sharing the journey with us!”
The Olympic couple first gained attention last August, when a video of Tara at the Paris 2024 Olympics went viral online. The athlete was immediately seen looking for Hunter after winning the women's long jump final, and jumped into his arms as he told her: “Honey, you're the Olympic champion!”
At the time, Tara was so focused on competing in the games that she never saw all the attention the video had gained. “I haven't been on social media a lot, so I don't know how viral it went,” she said in an interview with People. “Everyone has been telling me that everyone has been watching it, [but] It’s just me and Hunter. He’s my biggest supporter and I think everyone could see how supportive he is of me.”
When Tara won her gold medal, Hunter posted a tribute on his Instagram account. “I have no words to describe how proud I am of you,” he wrote alongside a photo of them standing next to the Eiffel Tower.
“It’s not a matter of luck, you’ve earned it. Discipline, work ethic and courage. These are the moments and this is your moment. Enjoy it.”
