SAINT-DENIS, France – Hunter Woodhall surged down the final stretch with fierce determination, overcoming defending champion Johannes Floors to secure gold in the men’s 400-meter T63 event.
Woodhall finished with a time of 46.36 seconds, beating the German competitor by a significant margin of 0.54 seconds.
This victory marks Woodhall’s first gold medal at the Paralympics, following bronze finishes at both the Tokyo 2020 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games in his favored event.
“This teaches a lesson about aiming high and setting ambitious goals – dream big, show up, do your best, and you never know what might happen,” Woodhall told reporters after his thrilling gold-medal performance. “I was hungry and desired this win so much.
“I always believed I had the potential to achieve this – my wife Tara has taught me so much, including the importance of self-affirmation and journaling. I’ve been writing in my journal that I would become a Paralympic champion, and now it’s a reality,” he said, referring to his wife, Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall.
Winning the gold medal was particularly sweet for Woodhall, especially after falling short at world championships where he earned silver twice and faced disqualification in 2024 due to a technical issue with his prosthetics.
The Fayetteville, Arkansas, adaptive athlete rose to the occasion in a thrilling performance on a pleasant Friday evening at Stade de France, where temperatures hovered around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. His winning time was 0.27 seconds shy of his personal best of 46.09, but that was of little consequence.
“There is always pressure to perform in athletics – it’s heart-wrenching, it’s tough, and you never know what could happen, but I wanted to put on a show for those supporting me. I know how many people tuned in for the Paralympics; this is vital for its growth, and everyone is paying attention,” he expressed.
“The crowd’s support was incredible, and I’m truly grateful,” Woodhall added.
After a few ecstatic screams, Woodhall rushed to the sidelines where he shared a long hug, including joyful spins, with his wife Tara. The emotional embrace seemed to last longer than the race itself.