Team USA | Hunter Woodhall Captures Elusive Paralympic Gold Medal With Courageous 400-meter Run, Teams With Tatyana McFadden For Universal Relay Bronze

“We’ll just enjoy this – we say a lot, like these are the moments, and man, this might be the moment,” he said.

Woodhall’s teammate and fellow double amputee, Blake Leeper, also showed a strong final kick, but missed out on the medals finishing fourth. The 35-year-old veteran clocked a personal best of 47.32 seconds. It was a heck of an effort from Leeper, who was a 400m T44 silver medalist, 12 years ago at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Perhaps Woodhall’s performance was also a bit of redemption from his sixth-place finish in the 100m T64 final four days ago, even though he set a personal best. After that race, he wrote to his 764,000 Instagram followers: “I’m proud of the way I competed.” 

Still, it was evident that the desire inside was burning stronger. Woodhall – along with the unwavering support of wife Tara – proved that was indeed true.

Woodhall was incredibly emotional, breaking down in tears on the victory stand as the Star-Spangled Banner played and a special evening came to a close.

Woodhall’s work on Friday night wasn’t done just yet. Roughly, an hour and a half after blazing to 400m gold, Woodhall ran the second leg for Team USA in the fascinating 4×100-meter universal relay Final.

The relay consists of teams of four individuals – two men, two women – representing varying disabilities: visual impairment, amputee, cognitive and athletes in wheelchairs. Teammates tag one another, as relay batons are not used.

Woodhall (T62) lined up with his U.S. teammates, Tatyana McFadden (T54), Noah Malone (T12) and Taylor Swanson (T37). 

The American foursome teamed to win a bronze medal, clocking a time of 47.32 seconds, as China won gold. For McFadden, it was a U.S. record-setting 21st Para track and field medal.

“It feels incredible and an honor to be part of this relay team, and for me, this is one more medal,” McFadden said. “It’s a little bit emotional because this is my final (event) on the track in front of this incredible crowd.

“I have the marathon on Sunday, but right now I am just so happy to make history as the athlete with the most (Paralympic) medals for the USA (in Para track and field).

“But the job’s not finished for me yet – I have my eyes set on LA (2028 Parlympic Games),” said the 35-year-old athlete, competing in her sixth Summer Paralympic Games.