USA Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall has not only been recognized for winning the gold medal in the women’s long jump at the 2024 Paris Games, but she has also gained attention for her supportive husband, Hunter Woodhall, who teared up at her victory. The 25-year-old athlete went viral for cheering on his wife and shouting with pride. “You’re the Olympic champion!” he exclaimed in disbelief as Tara secured the gold for the USA with a jump of 7.10 meters. This couple’s love story goes way back, so let us give you a summary:
These two Olympians met in 2017 during a high school track meet, where Hunter felt an immediate connection, sparking the beginning of their relationship. He recalled in a YouTube video that he knew she was the one, and they started dating later that year. As they both pursued careers in track and field, they supported each other despite the challenges of a long-distance relationship.
The couple both qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Games, marking the first time they attended the Olympics together. Tara expressed her excitement on social media, writing, “Four years ago, I made the best decision ever! Woke up at 6 am, drove 2 hours just to hang out with this kid who I had a huge crush on. Turns out he had a crush on me too… now we’re both Olympians.” Hunter, who has both legs amputated due to fibular hemimelia since he was a baby, won bronze in the men’s 400-meter dash, while Tara did not medal that year in the women’s long jump.
Now, at the 2024 Olympic Games, they once again find themselves competing and representing their nation together. After her gold win, Hunter expressed his pride on Instagram, saying, “No words to describe how proud of you I am. No luck involved, you earned this. Discipline, work ethic, and grit. These are the moments, and this is your moment. Soak it in.”
The couple got engaged in 2021 with the Cabo San Lucas ocean waves in the background. The gold medalist shared the news on her Instagram in September 2021, noting, “You’ve shown me the true meaning of life, and now I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Let me reintroduce myself as FIANCÉ.” They then tied the knot in October 2022, introducing themselves as “The Woodhalls” in a joint Instagram post.
