The track and field star shares with PEOPLE that she’s thrilled to cheer on her husband, Hunter Woodhall, as he competes in the Paralympics.
The hug was shared worldwide: After winning gold in the women’s long jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall sprinted into the arms of her husband, Hunter Woodhall. He hugged her tightly and proudly said, “Babe, you’re the Olympic champion!”
The moment quickly went viral, but Davis-Woodhall hasn’t been focusing on that.
Advertisement “I haven’t been online much, so I’m not sure how popular it is!” the athlete says. “People keep saying everyone’s seen it, but that’s how we are. The support I get is huge, and I guess now everyone else sees that too.”
With a gold medal around her neck, it’s her turn to cheer him on. As a double-amputee sprinter, he’s preparing to compete in the Paralympics starting Aug. 28.
“We’re heading home for 13 days to pack, train more for him, and then we’ll be back. The excitement isn’t over,” she says. “It doesn’t stop here.”
Sometimes, it feels like people pay less attention to the Paralympics after the Olympics end. But she’s made it her mission to make sure the Paralympics get just as much support.
“I’ve been telling everyone to watch the Paralympics! It’s going to be an amazing event,” she says. “Team USA is coming strong, and we’re going to dominate this year.”
At 25, he’s a track and field star with one silver and two bronze medals. Born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that affects the growth of lower limbs, he had his first amputation at just 11 months old. He married her in 2022.
The day after she won gold, he posted a heartfelt message on Instagram to celebrate her achievement.
He wrote, “I can’t put into words how proud I am of you. This wasn’t luck—you earned it with discipline, hard work, and determination. This is your moment, so enjoy it ❤️,” along with a photo of them together in front of the Eiffel Tower.
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Her journey to the top of the Olympic podium wasn’t easy. She finished sixth in the long jump at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“Not getting first in Tokyo motivated me for this moment,” she says. “I knew first place was possible, and I wanted it. I’m so excited and still can’t believe I did it. It feels unreal.”
Source: People