Despite the 878 events of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic events, one couple seemed to steal the world’s attention. Tara and Hunter Woodhall defy the apparent laws of athletic talent distribution, shocking the world as a married couple where both partners are simultaneously at the peak of their careers. Even though he was born with fibular hemimelia that prevented the proper growth of his lower legs, Hunter, an amputee since 11 months old, shared the same passion for running as Tara. While the pair has received sporadic attention over the past few years from their YouTube channel, their popularity skyrocketed after a TikTok clip went viral this past summer of Tara falling onto the sand then immediately running to embrace Hunter after she secured the gold medal in the Women’s Long Jump Final. People began diving into the story of their marriage and the path that led them to the biggest athletic stage in the world.
According to what they have shared via social media, the pair met at 17 years old when they were both competing at a high school track meet in Idaho. After Tara struck up a conversation with Hunter, the two immediately felt a spark. They maintained their relationship as they both competed in collegiate athletics at the University of Texas and University of Arkansas, respectively. Hunter even became the first double amputee to receive a NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. As their careers took off, Hunter qualified and competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Because they both ran in events at Toyo in 2020, Tara joined him. Hunter walked away from both experiences with a silver medal from the Men’s 200m in the T44 division and two bronze medals from the Men’s 400m in the T62 division. Unfortunately, Tara came up just short of a medal in Tokyo. While the two have discussed the difficulty of a long distance relationship and supporting a healthy dynamic under the demands of their training, they defied the odds and made it. Tara and Hunter got married in 2022 at a stunning ceremony at a vineyard in Texas, even incorporating their two dogs into the festivities.
Yet, after the celebration, both of them returned to training, itching for a gold medal after making it so close before. At the Olympic and Paralympic Trials, Tara and Hunter secured their spots on the American teams headed for Paris. Their dedication soon paid off. After facing off against the best female long jumpers in the world, Tara jumped a spectacular 7.10m to earn the gold medal in her event. Running over to celebrate with Hunter, her smile was absolutely radiant, stealing the hearts of people watching the games from around the world. In the subsequent Paralympic competition, Hunter battled his way to gold against the reigning champion, sprinting to embrace Tara in turn after his victory. The support they showed for each other during the games touched viewers around the globe, increasing their previous fan base to include millions of new supporters. Their story has inspired people with their dedication and love for each other and their sport.
Rachel Dunn ‘25 Sports Editor
