As the world watched the Olympic Games in Paris last month, Hunter Woodhall had a front-row seat to witness his wife achieve her dream of becoming an Olympic champion. Now, it’s his turn to chase glory as he prepares to compete in the Paralympic Games, with his eyes set on winning that elusive gold medal.
Paris 2024 will mark Woodhall’s third appearance at the Paralympics, having first burst onto the global scene in 2016. As a teenager, he clinched a bronze and a silver medal in Rio, followed by another bronze in Tokyo. Despite his impressive achievements, the gold medal has remained just out of reach—until now.
“That’s the goal,” said Woodhall, who recently recovered from a bout of COVID-19 before heading to France. “This has been the most consistent I’ve ever been. It’s the most dialed in I’ve ever been. And I’m running the best I’ve ever ran. I’m the most fit I’ve ever been.”
Woodhall’s journey to the top has been anything but straightforward. Born with a fused right ankle and a condition known as fibular hemimelia, which affected his left leg, he faced immense challenges from an early age. At just under one year old, he underwent a double amputation, losing both legs from the knees down. Despite predictions that he might never walk, Woodhall’s determination and the support of prosthetic technology allowed him to defy the odds.
Growing up in a military family, exercise was always a priority, and Woodhall spent his early years chasing after his older brothers and trying his hand at various sports. But it wasn’t until he discovered track and field that he found his true calling. The sport provided an outlet where he could compete on equal footing—him versus the clock. It became a place of solace and excitement for the young athlete.
“It was just me versus the clock, and I found peace in that. I found excitement in that. It’s just up to me to get a little bit better,” Woodhall shared, recalling the journey from a struggling middle schooler to one of the world’s top para sprinters.
As he gears up for the Paralympics, Woodhall has another advantage in his arsenal—his recent time spent in Paris. While supporting his wife, he had the chance to familiarize himself with the city, the time zone, and, crucially, the Stade de France, where he hopes to make history later this week.
“I think the visualization was huge. Just seeing how everything kind of goes down, seeing the stadium, the practice track, just all of it. I got an up close and personal look,” Woodhall explained.
His first chance at gold will come in the 100m T64 final, followed by the 400m event later in the week. Regardless of the outcome, Woodhall is living out a dream that once seemed impossible, inspiring millions along the way. Whether he finally claims that elusive gold or not, his journey is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the power of believing in oneself.
