Hunter Woodhall shared a powerful message for his younger self, who transformed his disability into his greatest strength and made a name for himself on the global stage. Woodhall’s legs were amputated when he was 11 months old due to fibular hemimelia, but the setback never obstructed his path to success.
The Paralympic athlete was also a driving force at the collegiate level, competing and making waves alongside non-disabled runners.
Hunter Woodhall Shares a Strong Message for His Younger Self
Woodhall’s journey in school was far from smooth, as he was often bullied because of his disability. He initially used prosthetic legs and later shifted to carbon fiber “blades,” eventually joining the track and field team. For his standout performances on the track, he became the first double-amputee track and field athlete to earn a Division I athletic scholarship, signing with the University of Arkansas.
At the elite level, he has amassed five Paralympic medals, with the latest coming at the Paris Olympics, along with two podium finishes at the World Championships. Continuing his pursuit of excellence, Woodhall recently sat down with CBS Mornings, where he shared a powerful message to his younger self. He urged him to persevere despite feeling out of place and questioning everything, explaining that his life would soon shift from feeling burdened to feeling blessed. He said:
“Dear eight-year-old Hunter, I know you’re hurting. I know you’re asking questions no kid should have to ask. Why was I put in this situation? Why am I the odd one out? Why does everything feel harder for me? And why does it feel like the world is stacked against me when you’re already starting at the bottom? At 11 months old, your legs were amputated because of a birth defect called fibular hemimelia. It will shape the way you see yourself and the way the world sees you.
“You feel like you’re carrying a burden that no one else around you understands. But here’s the truth, that burden will become your blessing,” she said.
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Woodhall won the 400-meter T62 event in Paris, days after his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall, won the long jump gold at the Olympics.
Davis-Woodhall and the Paralympian first met at a track event in Idaho and shared a hug after their races. They later connected on social media, dated long-distance, and married in 2022. The couple has been supportive of each other’s careers and often expresses love and admiration both on and off social media.
In his speech on CBS Mornings, he told his younger self how his parents, siblings, and the woman he would fall in love with would encourage him throughout his journey. He also said that young Woodhall would experience a kind of love with Tara that he had never felt before.
