“Starting My Campaign”

On August 8, Tara Davis-Woodhall made two iconic jumps. One was her 7.10m leap to win the Olympic gold. The other was right into the arms of her husband, Hunter Woodhall, as they became the face of the “‘Where’s the trophy?’ (S)he just comes running over to me” trend.

Now, as Hunter’s time to light up the tracks has come, the IPC made a monumental decision that would’ve otherwise led to many Paralympians facing disqualification.

Historically, the Paralympic Games have had a (controversial) rule that prevents athletes from “body advertising,” which meant that they weren’t allowed to have tattoos of even the Olympic rings, viewing it as a promotion of the IOC, a separate entity from the IPC.

While many sported it as a symbol of their hard work, the IPC frowned upon it. But just a couple of days before the Paralympics kicked off, an IPC representative sent a mail to the New York Times: “Athletes with such tattoos do not need to cover them up.” 

Hunter Woodhall doesn’t have a tattoo of the Olympic rings (yet), which would’ve meant that he escaped a disqualification (or having to cover it up) even if the rule was still in place. But now that it isn’t, many of his fellow competitors can display their Olympic rings freely.

That said, after overcoming a bout with COVID-19, Woodhall is back and stronger than ever, setting his sights on an athletic goal that many dream of but only few can achieve!

Hunter Woodhall’s bold hope for the LA 2028 Paralympics!

After witnessing his wife make history in Paris, Woodhall was asked about his Paralympic Games campaign. “I’m feeling really good, mentally and physically,” he told NBC News. “Watching Tara in Paris was a really great visualization. So I’m prepared.” 

As the day of the Opening Ceremony rolled around, he doubled down on this sentiment. Sharing pictures from the ceremony on Instagram, he wrote, “Let’s get these Games rolling.” Speaking of the Opening Ceremony…

If you watched the parade on River Seine for the Olympics, you would’ve known what an honor it is to be the flagbearer for your country. Remember how excited Coco Gauff was to stand next to the LeBron James? Well, that’s the same high Hunter Woodhall is chasing for the 2028 LA Games. On Instagram Threads, the 25-year-old wrote, “Starting my campaign now to be a flagbearer for @la28games.”

Hunter Woodhall isn’t just hyping himself up—he’s putting it out there with all the confidence in the world as he preps for the Paris Paralympics. Being chosen as a flag bearer? That’s not just any honor. It’s for those top-tier athletes who’ve got the hardware and the hustle to back it up. This year’s American flag bearers? They’ve got three Olympic golds between them—talk about setting the bar high.

They were chosen by fellow American Paralympic athletes, whose contingent includes 225 athletes and guides. For Woodhall to make a statement like this means he’s got his sights set on that level of greatness in the next four years, just in time for the LA Paralympics. And he’s not waiting around—he’s ready to start proving himself right now in Paris.

With three Paralympic medals already on his résumé—silver in the 200m in Rio and two bronzes in the 400m from Rio and Tokyo—Woodhall’s no stranger to the podium. This year, he’ll be racing in the 100m T64 and 400m T62, and he’s not just in it to make up the numbers. As Tara Davis-Woodhall put it, “He has a target on his back, and he is going to be the hunted this year.” 

Hunter’s been all over social media, giving fans a front-row seat to his training and progress. In one of his Instagram reels, he made it crystal clear: “I will not be participating at the Paralympics, I will be competing. Putting a new definition on disability.” He set the record straight about one of his ambitions for the 2028 LA Games. As for Paris, Woodhall wrote, “Paralympics have often been described by the media as ‘participants’ and not ‘competitors.’ At Paris 2024, it’s time we set the record straight.”

He’s out to change the game, and if you’ve followed his career, you know he’s got the skills to back it up. And besides the skills, he’s also the picture of sportsmanship, promoting not just his own but Paralympic athletes in general. German Paralympic long jumper Markus Rehm has set a goal to leap further than Olympic gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou in the Stade de France. Commenting on this, Hunter Woodhall said,

“It shows the progress of the Paralympics – how athletically talented we are and the results we can have. Even more than that, though, come and see people achieving their dreams.” Likely reminiscing about his embrace with Tara Davis-Woodhall and other similar instances in Paris, he added, “A lot of the moments that went viral in the Olympics were filled with emotion… You see those moments come to life, and it will be the same for the Paralympics.” Isn’t this the definition of flagbearer material?

Reflecting on this year’s flagbearers, it’s clear they’re icons who’ve raised the bar sky-high—but if anyone’s up for the challenge, it’s Hunter Woodhall!

Who are the flagbearers for this year’s Paris Paralympics?

The 225 athletes competing in the Paralympics have spoken, and they’ve chosen Nicky Nieves and Steve Serio as the flag bearers for Team USA at this year’s Games. Steve Serio, a wheelchair basketball legend, is no stranger to the podium, boasting three Paralympic medals, including two golds.

At 36, he’s still the star of the team, and with this latest honor, he promised to represent the athletes faithfully. “The Paralympic movement means a lot to me. Being a Team USA athlete and a Paralympian is one of the greatest honours I’ve ever had. I hope my country will be proud of me and I can’t wait to represent you at the Opening Ceremony.” On the volleyball court, Nicky Nieves is a force to be reckoned with.

She led Team USA to a stunning victory in the 2016 Rio Games but had to sit out Tokyo due to COVID-19. Now, she’s back and ready to lead the team once more. But Nicky’s impact goes beyond the court—she’s an outspoken advocate for mental health and disability rights and runs an organization called Limitless People, which helps aspiring volleyball players achieve their dreams.

Upon hearing the news, she was ecstatic, saying, “Being the flag bearer for Team USA means that all my efforts have not been in vain. I can represent the country that made me who I am, with the best American athletes by my side. Thank you to my incredible team for nominating me for this honour and thank you to all the athletes on Team USA.”

With both athletes eyeing more gold for their country, the question is: could Hunter Woodhall rise to their level by the time LA 2028 rolls around, earning him the chance to carry the flag? Share your thoughts in the comments!