It didn’t take long for the RootsTech audience to become enamored with Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall, happily married track and field Olympic champions.
Both athletes trained for and participated in the Paris 2024 Games, with Tara in the Olympics and Hunter in the Paralympics. Tara won the gold medal in the women's long jump. Hunter won the bronze medal in the 4x100-meter universal relay and the gold medal in the men's T62 400-meter dash.
Right after completing her winning long jump, Tara immediately ran to where her husband was sitting in the stands. She leaped into his embrace, and the two of them celebrated together. This moment became one of the most memorable wins of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Hunter competed in the Paralympics two weeks later and won his own gold medal in the men’s 400-meter dash.
As a video played of their heartwarming Olympic hug, RootsTech emcee Kirby Heyborne exclaimed, “Together, they are unstoppable! Their story isn’t just about winning medals. It’s about resilience, partnership, and lifting each other up through every challenge.”
Love on the Track
When Heyborne asked the couple if they met on some sort of Olympic dating app, they both laughed. “It’s called a track meet,” Tara said.
The couple was still in high school when they met at a high school track meet in Idaho. Hunter spotted Tara at the meet and told his friend, “I’m going to marry that girl one day.” At the same meet, Tara decided to go give him a hug after his race, not knowing it happened to be Hunter’s birthday that day. “That man is fine,” she commented to her friends. The two kept in touch throughout high school and college. In 2022, Hunter’s prediction came true—he and Tara got married.
Now, Tara and Hunter train together every day. Tara said, “We have the same coach, the same training schedule, and we eat the same.” They told Kirby about how their support for each other has strengthened their relationship.
Family Support
Heyborne asked the couple who in their life has run beside them in both their life and athletic journeys.
Tara talked about the impact of her father, who was her trainer and coach from age 4 to age 18. “He truly understands what I’m capable of, and he never once doubted me,” she said of her father.
Hunter talked about how, from the moment he was born, his family has always been in his corner. He was born with a birth defect that led to both of his legs being amputated at 11 months of age. Hunter said, “From the first day of my life, I dealt with the hardest thing that I would for the rest of my life. Through that, there was so much negativity . . . and then in my corner was my entire family saying the opposite.” They allowed him the space to chase his dreams and find out what was possible, in spite of his disability.
Hunter also spoke fondly of his late Uncle Wyatt, who passed away from cancer a couple of years ago: “He was one of those people that had an unwavering belief in me.” Since his uncle did not get to see his Paralympic race, Hunter wrote his uncle’s name on his racing bib to honor his memory.
Genealogy Discoveries
The couple were presented with a special surprise. FamilySearch genealogist Megan Young McClanahan came onstage to tell them about some genealogy discoveries in their family lines.
“One thing we found was a tradition of strength, determination, and pride,” she said. McClanahan told Tara about her great-grandfather Reecy Davis, who was a prominent boxer in Texas. She explained how, in the 1940 census, his occupation was listed as “shoeshine,” but by 1950, he had worked so hard that “boxer” was listed as his profession in the 1950 census. “I have chills,” Tara said in astonishment.
Hunter’s line was filled with inspiring women who faced adversity head-on. McClanahan talked about Hunter’s great-grandmother, who raised her grandson after his mother died of polio. “It takes a huge heart to adopt a 4-year-old at 54!” she exclaimed. Hunter also learned about his third-great-grandmother, who was left to raise 9 children on her own when her husband passed away at a young age. Not only did she lose her husband, she also buried 5 of her 9 children. Hunter smiled to see his expanded family tree as a result of research from FamilySearch genealogists.
A Legacy to Be Proud Of
Kirby Heyborne asked the couple about how the legacy of their ancestors impacts them.
Hunter praised the women in his life, talking about how his mother drove him from Georgia to Florida regularly when he had his legs amputated as a baby and how she took such good care of him and helped him to persevere. “We are here because of the sacrifices and decisions that the strong women made in our lives,” he added.
Tara added her thoughts as well. “It feels really good to keep that type of legacy alive, that legacy of never giving up,” she said, referring to her great-grandfather and his boxing career.
Hunter talked about how knowing where we come from shapes who we want to be. “I think it’s everything,” he said. “Remembering how you got to where you are is important to understanding how you get to the next step and how you continue the legacy,” he added. His last name is a reminder to him of the legacy his ancestors have given him. “That name on the back of our jersey means so much,” he said as Tara nodded. “The most valuable thing that we own is our name,” he said.
Next up for Hunter and Tara is the World Championships and the United States National Championships. For the first time since they were in college, the two will be able to compete at the same United States championships, which they are thrilled about. “We will just keep on training and keep on sharing our good word,” Tara said.
As they left the stage, they pulled out their gold medals from Paris and held them up for the crowd to a big applause. Tara and Hunter’s message touched all who listened in.
What Is RootsTech?
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