SAINT-DENIS, France – Hunter Woodhall showcased determination and speed as he surged down the final straight to win gold in the men’s 400-meter T63 event, overtaking defending champion Johannes Floors.
Woodhall finished with a time of 46.36 seconds, surpassing the German competitor by an impressive margin of 0.54 seconds. This victory marks the first Paralympic title for the 25-year-old double amputee, who previously captured bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games in the same event.
“This is a lesson in aiming high and setting ambitious goals – dream big, show up, do your best, and you never know what might happen,” Woodhall expressed to reporters after his emotional gold-medal performance. “I wanted this so badly.”
He credited his wife, Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall, for helping him realize his potential through self-affirmation and journaling. “I have been writing in my journal that I will be a Paralympic champion, and now it’s true,” he said.
The joy of winning gold was particularly poignant for Woodhall, who has faced setbacks in world championships, including two silver medals and a disqualification in 2024 due to a prosthetics issue.
Competing in favorable conditions at Stade de France, with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, Woodhall’s winning time was just 0.27 seconds shy of his personal best. Despite the pressure of the moment, he was determined to impress his supporters.
“There’s always pressure to perform; it’s part of athletics. It can be tough and unpredictable, but I wanted to show everyone who was supporting me that this is growth for the Paralympics, and I wanted to contribute to that,” he remarked.
Woodhall expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic reception from the crowd. After celebrating his victory, he quickly rushed to the sidelines, where he shared a heartfelt embrace complete with spins with Tara. Their emotional moment seemed to last longer than his race itself.