Imagine being one of the fastest high school runners in the nation, shattering state records, yet watching your phone stay silent—no college recruiters calling, no scholarship offers, just the sting of being overlooked because of who you are. That was Hunter Woodhall’s reality. Born with fibular hemimelia, which led to the amputation of both legs below the knees at 11 months old, the Paralympic gold medalist and husband of Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall faced rejection after rejection. Until he got a call!
The University of Arkansas threw him a lifeline that changed everything. Woodhall’s journey to Arkansas was anything but easy. Despite breaking Utah’s 400-meter state record on carbon fiber blades, he struggled to convince colleges to take a chance on him. The Olympic gold-winning couple, Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, visited back home to speak at the University of Arkansas and
shared the video on their YouTube channel,
Tara and Hunter, on April 7, 2025.
In the moderated question-and-answer session as Distinguished Lecturer at the university, Hunter Woodhall revealed his story of joining Arkansas University and how it changed his life. “Fayetteville’s my favorite place in the world, it’s incredible,” he said, reflecting on the turning point. “When I was getting recruited in high school, it was really hard for me to get a scholarship, to get a college to really bet on me.” No double amputee had ever landed a Division I track and field scholarship, and the offers weren’t coming—until Arkansas stepped up.
“The University of Arkansas was the first school that really stuck their neck out for me,” Woodhall recalled. “I came here and I remember just being here on my visit and seeing the facilities… I came from Salt Lake City, so you have this idea of what Arkansas is going to be like, and it just blew all my expectations out of the water.” At Arkansas, Woodhall found more than a track program—he found a home.
“The coaches, the team, everyone was so cool,” he said. “I just felt like it was where I needed to be, so coming here was incredible, and it helped me develop so much as an athlete and as a person.” Under coaches Chris Bucknam and Doug Case, he became a four-time All-American, racing alongside non-disabled athletes in the SEC. Memorable moments—like winning his first SEC title with the 4×400 relay team in 2020—defined his college career. “Scoring at the SECs and helping the team score was special for me,” he noted.
But the scholarship itself? That was the game-changer. “My proudest moment…honestly…is getting a scholarship,” Woodhall admitted. “I did not have a full ride, but I had something, you know what I mean, and I had a really difficult time even getting into college.” Despite his stellar high school times, the silence from recruiters was deafening. “I was one of the best in the nation, but I was getting no calls from colleges,” he said.
“There was a moment in time where I thought, like oh, ‘This just isn’t going to happen.’ And I felt like very devalued, I felt like all the work I’d put in was for nothing.” Then, Arkansas called. “When they reached out and stuck their neck out for me,” he said, “it changed everything.” That chance propelled Woodhall to a professional career and Paralympic gold in 2024. Arkansas didn’t just save him—it unleashed him, proving that belief in someone’s potential can rewrite their story. And gave us an athlete with such a stellar career.
A recap of Tara Dasvis-Woodhall’s husband, Hunter Woodhall’s career after Arkansas
Hunter Woodhall joined Arkansas in 2018 as a freshman and competed in 6 indoor meets and 7 outdoor meets. And he ran his personal best in one of such meets at 400 meters, clocking 47.42 in the Michael Johnson Invitational. Pralympian also earned First-Team All-American honors for his participation at 4x 400 relays. And this was just the beginning! He went on to secure three more First-Team All-American honors.
And then Tara Davis Woodhall’s husband Hunter Woodhall parted ways with Arkansas in 2021 after completing his junior year in 2020. And oh boy! We all saw what he did in the very same year at the Tokyo Olympics. The paralympian clinched Bronze in the 400m T62 event by clocking 48.61. He returned for the next Olympics in Paris, and let’s just say he created history. Hunter Woodhall won not one but two medals, including one gold. He won a gold in 400m T62 event and then topped it up with a bronze in 4×100 relays.
The post Ignored Over Disability, Tara Davis-Woodhall’s Husband Hunter Reveals How Arkansas University Saved Him appeared first on EssentiallySports.
