Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall's love story might as well be acted out in Netflix's next rom-com. The pro athletes are are competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, but back in 2017, Tara and Hunter met for the first time at a track meet. The couple broke down the details about the start of their relationship in a YouTube video a few years back, and it's just as adorable as you'd expect.
It only seems appropriate that Tara and Hunter met at an athletic competition. When they were both 16, they traveled to the Simplot Games in Idaho — Tara from California and Hunter from Utah. They caught each other's attention at different times.
Hunter saw Tara race the hurdles, and told his best friend, "Damn, that girl is fine. I'm gonna marry that girl." Later in the day, Tara saw Hunter stretching before his 400-meter event and sparks flew instantly.
"I just saw him and was like, 'Ooh, who's that?'" Tara recalled. "I kinda just stared at him for a little bit." But Tara would go on to make the first move and the rest is history.
This power couple has gone on to support each other through ups and downs, personally and professionally. Most recently, Hunter cheered Tara on in winning a gold medal for long jump during the Paris 2024 Olympics. "You inspire me every day to be great," Hunter wrote Tara in a heartfelt post before the competition.
We love a supportive king. Ahead, here's everything we know about their strong bond, from how they first met to where they are now. Why Can't We Stop Crying At the Olympics? Tara Davis-Woodhall Slid Into the DMs The track event back in 2016 ended in a hug and small talk, but Davis-Woodhall made sure the spark didn't fizzle out.
She slid into Woodhalls's Twitter DMs, and started a flirty chat. When their banter kicked off, she realized, "Oh this guy has some moves!" Social messages turned into trading phone numbers, and "a few months down the road" their relationship started picking up speed. The Two Were Long Distance For a While After months of chatting long-distance and occasional meet-ups, the couple officially went on their first date in June 2017.
Davis-Woodhall drove two hours to where Woodhall was training in Southern California, and the visit set the scene for their first kiss. They remained long distance throughout college and have talked about the importance of communication. "We balance our long-distance relationship by having communication, trust, and patience," Woodhall told Elle in a 2021 interview.
"Over the past four years, we learned how to communicate and operate as a couple. We have had countless situations where we had done badly on both sides, but we learned from those lessons and genuinely want to grow our relationship." Davis-Woodhall added, "We try to see the other side of an argument.
We try not to tell each other how we should feel." They Competed in Their First Olympics as a Couple During the Tokyo Games "This will be [Woodhall's] second Paralympics, but for me, it was my dream. It was my Olympic dream.
That's my dream," Davis-Woodhall told People in August 2021. "And to experience at a time and be a couple that are Olympians is just insane." Woodhall shared his excitement for the milestone in an Instagram post , writing, "TARA LANE DAVIS YOU ARE AN OLYMPIAN! I am so unbelievably proud of you, not just for what you did out there last night but for who you are.
You have fought through more this year than some do in a lifetime. You deserve this more than anyone, and I am so grateful I get to watch you create your legacy. TOKYO HERE WE COME!" They Got Engaged in September 2021 The couple got engaged beachside in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in September 2021.
"You've showed me the true meaning of life and now i get to spend the rest of my life with you. let me reintroduce myself as a FIANCÉ," Davis-Woodhall wrote in a celebratory post . Woodhall cemented the moment on IG with his own carousel of photos , making some pre-wedding vows to his partner.
"To my future wife, I promise to always be there for you. I promise to always provide for you. I promise to always love you.
You make me a better person and I can't imagine a life without you. Thank you for trusting, supporting, and loving me the last 5 years. here's to the rest of our lives.
" The Got Married October 2022 The couple's wedding was held at D'Vine Grace Vineyard in McKinney, Texas. "This has been such a dream — ever since we started dating, Hunter and I have talked about getting married," Davis-Woodhall told People . "We were for real about it, we truly saw each other for the rest of our lives.
" Now They're Supporting Each Other at the Paris 2024 Olympics The 2024 Olympics make Woodhall's third Paralympic Games and Davis-Woodhall's second appearance. "Tomorrow you contend for the Olympic Title. I'm so humbled by you.
You have battled through so much just to give yourself a chance. You've inspired so many with your authenticity," Woodhall wrote on Instagram the night before the competition. "Showing it's okay to struggle, it's okay to not always be okay.
Through everything you continued to fight for your dream. No one has worked harder. No one has been more disciplined.
You inspire me every day to be great. Tomorrow is your moment. Enjoy every bit of it.
You are ready." The support and hard work paid off for Davis-Woodwall who took gold in the long jump on Aug. 8, running into her husband's arms for a hug and tight embrace after her win was announced.
— Additional reporting by Alexis Jones Alexis Jones is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. Her passions and areas of expertise include women's health and fitness, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine.
Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more. Karenna Meredith is a former associate editor at PS..
