Utahn Hunter Woodhall ran the biggest race of his life earlier this month when he won gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics — but he may have just run his most fun races on Wednesday.
Woodhall and his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, stopped by Shriners Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City to give back to the Shriners community that gave so much to him.
The couple took photos with every family in attendance, signed countless photos — and prosthetic legs — and raced the throngs of Shriners kids in attendance.
What Shriners Children’s Hospital means to Hunter Woodhall
Woodhall is a former patient and patient ambassador of the hospital. As a baby, he was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia in his left leg and a fused right ankle.
It was at Shriners that doctors recommended the amputation of both of his legs as the best solution for Woodhall’s range of motion. It’s also where he received his first running blades and learned how to run.
“A lot of people that are in this hospital helping you guys out, encouraging you, are the same people who helped me out, helped me get to where I am today,” Woodhall told the crowd of Shriners families Wednesday. “You guys are in the right spot with the right people, and incredible things are going to happen.”