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SALT LAKE CITY — Hunter Woodhall has had to battle his whole life.
The recent Syracuse High graduate had plenty of people who told him he couldn’t run track for the Titans, but he capped off his senior year by winning a state title and breaking his own Utah High School Activities Association state records in the 200 and 400-meter dashes, giving him four high school state titles.
“It’s been a very long journey from where I came from, and to be able to experience that with my team, my family, and the people supporting me was amazing,” Woodhall said.
And all that with a birth defect that necessitated the amputation of both legs below the knee when he was an infant. At 18 months, he was walking. Shortly thereafter, he was running — and playing sports.
“I started doing all these things that at first were ‘not possible,’” he said. “It really changed people’s minds to what is possible.”
Woodhall has never used his disability as an excuse, though. He’s seen it as an opportunity.
“Every step you can find success is a step in the right direction,” he said. “This whole journey is about changing perceptions of what is possible, and showing people that no matter what you have been dealt, you can do some amazing things. You’ve just got to work hard.”
Each step has been life-changing for Woodhall — sometimes literally. Because of the latest technology in his prosthetics, the Titan grad has been able to do everything else his able-bodied peers have.
“Without the technology here today, I wouldn’t be able to walk — forget running,” Woodhall said. “I’m very blessed to have people in my life who have helped me get where I am, and have wanted to see me succeed.”
Woodhall is a fighter, and the two-time Paralympic medalist is going somewhere no double amputee has ever been: the University of Arkansas.
That’s right, the Syracuse star will be the first double amputee to receive a scholarship for track and field in U.S. history when he suits up for the Razorbacks next fall.
“I’m very thankful that the programs that offered me showed interest and really believed that I had the potential to run at the Division I level,” he said. “The recruiting process started out extremely slow, with only one school in the game. But I had a few important people reach out to coaches and tell them they didn’t have to treat me any different.
“He eats the same, he trains the same; you don’t have to worry about treating him special. Once they came to terms with that and were comfortable with it, then everything was good.”
Several national studies on able-bodied and amputee athletes have been inconclusive in showing one side has a distinct advantage of the other, Woodhall said, and the NCAA signed off on Arkansas’ decision to enlist the Paralympian.
But there were still plenty of doubters who tried to prove Woodall’s disability and use of technology is an advantage not found by able-bodied athletes.
“When I deal with these people, it’s just giving them a voice to tell everybody what I am doing wrong,” he said. “I just focus on myself; I focus on running, and going out on the track every day to put in the work," he said.
“It’s not to prove disbelievers wrong, but to prove the people who have supported me right.”
Woodhall has had plenty of people doubt him his entire life. And he has a message for anyone else who has faced similar doubts and concerns over their own abilities.
“People are going to tell you that you can’t do things. But if you believe in yourself, you can do amazing things,” Woodhall said.
“You can chase your goals, and I’m a testament to that. Throughout my whole life, I had people tell me that I couldn’t do things. But through the support of my family and friends, I made it. And I’m going to keep going.”
