Imagine being an Olympic champion and still having some significant challenges to overcome. That too, in the very same discipline that brought you a Paralympic gold medal! Well, if that sounds quite absurd then here’s Hunter Woodhall’s story to explore how there are no limits to learning new things. In one of the biggest moments of his career, Hunter Woodhall ran one of his best races at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, clocking in at 46.36s! Now, with the Paralympic glory slowly becoming a thing of the past, Hunter Woodhall has been getting ready for his future challenges. And to get the absolute best results on the tracks, sometimes, you need to follow some funky, out-of-the-box ideas. However, recently one such idea really got the better of the paralympian!
In an Instagram update, Hunter Woodhall narrated a training session that was in no way similar to what he was used to. With lights fitted all around the base of the track, Woodhall had to keep running till the time the lights halted. Challenging right? Well, the 26-year-old would agree with you! He had really no idea what he was signing up for. To pile on the immense pressure were the sea of cheerleaders who would watch on as the Georgia native ran. We would definitely not want to be stuck in such a situation. But how did it go? Far from pleasant!
Nonetheless, as the lights went on, Hunter Woodhall started running. No alien feelings in the first lap. As the race progressed, he realized maybe this wasn’t the fun exercise he was looking forward to- truly feeling the jitters by then. As he had not run anything over the 500m mark, reaching the 600m mark began to push the limits, “So we’re rolling pretty fast. At this point, I don’t have any idea where l’m at on the track and no idea when I’m going to stop, but we came through this 600 at 118, which is equivalent to like a 145, 146, 800 if you finish it… So at this point, I know I’m in shape, but my body was just starting to shut down.” However, with no other option remaining, Woodhall decided to power through all the challenges and move forward. At about the 650m mark, the lights started to outpace the Paralympian.
This sight started denting the 26-year-old’s confidence. Just when things had begun to seem impossible, after he had traversed the next 50m, relief came. “I was on pace to run 148 in the 800, which is a huge PR for me. But right when we hit 700 meters, the lights turn off. Thank the Lord.” Woodhall went on to term the drill as ‘fun’. At the end, he ran 700m, an impressive achievement when one realizes his best run of the season had been 500m. Meanwhile, to make sure he can come up with more such impressive runs, Hunter Woodhall recently had an important $20,000 decision to make.
Hunter Woodhall’s $20,000 gamble as he takes make-or-break decision to secure his track career
Hunter Woodhall isn’t leaving anything to chance this time. After a costly setback at the 2023 World Championships, where a malfunctioning prosthetic forced him to withdraw from his signature 400-meter T62 event, the Paralympic star is making sure history doesn’t repeat itself. His solution? A brand-new pair of running blades. An investment that likely set him back around $20,000!
In a vlog titled ‘Making New Legs For Running. How It’s Made’ on his YouTube channel Tara and Hunter, Woodhall took fans inside the process of getting custom-made prosthetics at Van Der Watt in Greenwood, Arkansas. Hunter announced at the beginning of the vlog, “I’m here in Greenwood, Arkansas. And I’m getting new running blades today, so that’s pretty exciting”. The reason? His old ones were, in his words, “busted.” The camera zoomed in on the damage, revealing cracks and weak spots in the structure. He detailed, “Yeah, so the whole back of the socket was cracking. And just the right amount of force in this whole plate, it just busts off.” But was the price justified?
Hunter Woodhall of USA compete Men’s 400m T43 Final
during World Para Athletics Championships Day Three at London Stadium in London on July 17, 2017 (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For the Paralympic gold medalist, yes it was! Woodhall’s previous experience made one thing very clear– no room for faulty equipment in elite sprinting. Unlike everyday prosthetics, sprinting blades are designed for explosive power and speed, making durability and precision non-negotiable. By securing a fresh pair, Woodhall is ensuring he has the best possible tools to compete at the highest level. While the cost is steep, it’s a price he’s more than willing to pay to keep his career on ‘track’ (the pun is intentional). As he jokingly put it while watching his prosthetist at work, “He’s cooking up some legs.”
With new blades in place, Woodhall is gearing up to sprint into the future, leaving behind the frustrations of faulty equipment. This time, he’s taking full control. More so, because in the world of track and field, every second, every step, and every decision counts. Just like Grant Fisher deserves better shoes, Hunter Woodhall deserves better (read, the best) prosthetics!
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