Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall's Relationship: All About the Olympic Couple’s Romance

Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall were in the spotlight at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the athletes’ love story had humble beginnings when they met at a high school track meet in 2017. From first meeting to forming a long-distance relationship during college, Davis and Woodhall faced many challenges and demands of competitive sport. Through consistent communication, trust and mutual respect, they stayed together, eventually marrying in 2022 and competing on the world stage for the second time at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Davis is known for her successes in the long jump and hurdles, while Woodhall gained recognition as a Paralympic medalist. Born with fibular hemimelia, which led to the amputation of his lower legs after 11 months, Woodhall set new records and inspired many with his resilience and determination.

Their relationship is characterized by unwavering support and shared goals, as witnessed by many as viewers tune in to the couple’s YouTube channel, which chronicles their life as a couple and as professional athletes.

Here’s everything you need to know about Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall’s relationship.

Davis made the first move

Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis.

Tara Davis/Instagram

While Davis grew up in Texas and Woodhall in Utah, the couple met across the state line in February 2017 at a track and field meet in Pocatello, Idaho. Both high school athletes at the time, Davis approached Hunter and hugged him.

“I walked out onto the track and said, ‘I don’t know why I have to do this, but I have to hug you,'” Davis recounted City and country in August 2024. “And that’s when we first talked.”

For Woodhall, he recalled thinking, “I’m going to marry that girl,” the athlete said in a YouTube video recalling their first meeting.

They started dating in 2017

Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall.

Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

After first meeting, Davis and Woodhall followed each other on social media, stayed in touch, and officially began their relationship that summer in June 2017.

Although both went to college at different universities that fall — Davis at the University of Georgia before transferring to the University of Texas and Woodhall at the University of Arkansas — they stayed together through the distance, per City and country.

They balanced their long-distance relationship with communication and trust

Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall.

Tara Davis/Instagram

Although Davis and Woodhall stayed together throughout their college experience, the distance wasn’t always easy and required constant efforts from both athletes to make it work.

“We balance our long-distance relationship with communication, trust and patience,” Woodhall said Ella in July 2021. “Over the past four years we have learned how to communicate and act as a couple.”

The athlete added that there were “countless situations” in which everyone was at fault, but they “learned from those lessons” and are constantly working on “growth”. [their] relationship.” Davis said they always try to empathize and listen to the other side of the argument. “We try not to tell each other what we should feel,” she explained.

Although the Arkansas couple no longer rides long distances, they still work on communication and prioritizing their relationship amid the demands of professional athletes.

“One of the things that’s really important is understanding how to communicate on both sides,” Woodhall told PEOPLE in June 2022. “Understanding that we do the same things and have the same goals, we’re both going to have to motivate and push each other to the next level. ”

Both are Olympic athletes

Team USA’s Hunter Woodhall poses on the podium during the men’s 400m medal ceremony on Day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on September 3, 2021; Team USA’s Tara Davis reacts as she competes in the women’s long jump final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on August 3, 2021.

Carmen Mandato/Getty; Abbie Parr/Getty

In 2021, Davis and Woodhall began a significant milestone as a pair and individual athlete by competing at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

“This will be [Woodhall’s] other Paralympic Games, but for me it was my dream. It was my Olympic dream. That’s my dream,” Davis told PEOPLE in August 2021. “And to experience at one point and be a couple that’s an Olympian is just crazy.”

Davis was sixth in the women’s long jump and Woodhall won a bronze medal in the men’s 400m.

The pair returned to the world stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Davis secured gold in the women’s long jump and Woodhall won gold in the men’s 400m T62.

“We’ve been thinking about this moment for so long,” Davis told PEOPLE after her husband’s big race. “I didn’t really want to process [my win] a month ago because I wanted to do it together.”

They got married in October 2022

Tara Davis celebrates with Hunter Woodhall on day nine of the 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials on June 26, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon.

Steph Chambers/Getty

After getting engaged during a romantic getaway in Mexico in September 2021, Davis and Woodhall tied the knot on October 16, 2022 at D’Vine Grace Vineyard in McKinney, Texas.

Surrounded by about 200 family and friends, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by Woodhall’s teammate, Trenten Merrill. The couple’s two dogs, Milo and Winnie, served as ring bearers.

“This has been such a dream,” Davis told PEOPLE in October 2022. “Ever since we started dating, Hunter and I have talked about getting married. We’ve really seen each other for the rest of our lives and this is so surreal. We’ve accomplished so many milestones together, and this one is the biggest.”

The duo celebrated their first wedding anniversary with a joint Instagram post in October 2023.

“This past year has passed so quickly, we have learned so much within each other, but also within the foundation of marriage,” read the title. “One year later, still a lifetime.”

They share their life on YouTube

Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis.

Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

When Davis and Woodhall aren’t competing on the field, they post on social media to connect with fans.

The two share their experiences as a couple and professional athletes on their YouTube channel, giving their nearly 800,000 subscribers the first intimate look at their workouts, personal milestones and the details of their relationship.

In a video released in August 2024, they posted a vlog in the days leading up to Davis’ first competition at the Paris Games, “We’re at our Second Olympics. This time together,” emphasizing that this is their second Olympic stay, but the first that they can cheer for each other in the stands without the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Last time at the Olympics we couldn’t be together, but now everything is different,” reads the title of the video. “We have to watch and support each other.”

They push each other to be the best

Tara Davis-Woodhall of the United States celebrates her silver medal with Hunter Woodhall after the women’s long jump final during the World Athletics Championships on August 20, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.

Team Clayton/Corbis/Getty

Whether they’re celebrating personal victories or facing challenges, Davis and Woodhall aren’t shy about motivating each other.

When Davis finished sixth at the Tokyo Olympics, Woodhall took to Instagram to share his gratitude and support for his wife’s achievements as an athlete and as an individual.

“Competing in the Olympics is one thing, being disappointed that you finished 6th in the world out of 7 billion people is another. It shows how motivated you are and how motivated you are to be the best,” he wrote, adding, “You are my hero.”

In July 2024, when Woodhall set a new American record in the men’s T62 400m, Davis shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, celebrating his resilience and athleticism.

“You worked so hard this season to be the best version of Hunter Woodhall! Time and time again you overcome challenges that many athletes or people have never faced,” she wrote. “You are the definition of inspirational.”

The moment they shared at the 2024 Olympics has gone viral

Gold medalist American Tara Davis-Woodhall (left) celebrates with her husband American athlete Hunter Woodhall (right) after winning the women’s long jump final of the track and field event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, August 8, 2024.

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

After Davis won gold in the women’s long jump final, she ran straight into Woodhall’s arms when he told her: “Honey, you’re an Olympic champion!” The sweet moment between the pair went viral online, though Davis told PEOPLE that she herself doesn’t spend much time on social media.

“Everyone told me that the whole world was watching it, [but] it’s just Hunter and me. He is my biggest supporter, and I guess the whole world needs to see how much he supports me,” she said.

Davis is already set to cheer on Woodhall at the Paralympics when the pair return to Paris at the end of August.

“I told everyone that — watch the Paralympic Games! It will be a special show,” she said. “Team USA is coming with a vengeance, and we’re going to dominate this year.”

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Source: HIS Education