Sprinter Hunter Woodhall Has COVID amid His Paralympics Training: 'Completely My Fault'

Mar. 15, 2025

Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty

The 25-year-old double-amputee sprinter — who was just in Paris to support his wife and long jump athleteTara Davis-Woodhallat the2024 Olympics— confirmed his diagnosis in a post onThreadson Aug. 15.

“I tested positive for COVID,” he wrote in his post. “Unfortunate timing, but I knew it was a risk being around so many celebrating/traveling. Won’t be an excuse, gonna kick this thing and I’ll be ready for the Paralympics.”

The Paralympics begin in Paris on Aug. 28.

Hunter Woodhall in 2021.John Walton/PA Images via Getty

John Walton/PA Images via Getty

Hunter also posted aTikTokon Aug. 15 and joked that “Tara is shooing me away” after he tested positive.

In the video, Tara called him a “COVID freak” and told him to “back up” after he entered the room.“Just a little bit ago, you were asking me if you could hang out with me in the room,” he said to her while she kept her distance.

The video then switched to Tara wearing a mask and holding up supplies for Hunter. She then set everything down for Hunter as he joked that “she was mad at me five minutes ago for not hanging out in the room, now look at her.”

“This is not ideal, knowing that I got the Paralympics coming up in two weeks,” he said in the video. “[It’s] completely my fault, I was around a bunch of people celebrating, traveling, everything. It’s not gonna be an excuse [but] I’m going to keep a positive attitude and get better really quick, get back to training and run fast at the Paralympics. It will be okay."

Hunter’s diagnosis comes a few days after he shared that he “made it home and we’re going to throw a surprise party for Tara,” in aTikTokvideo posted on Monday, Aug. 12. Woodhall showed himself buying balloons at Party City and Tara’s surprised reaction to the gathering to celebrate her gold medal win.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Woodhalls went viral whenHunter shared a celebratory hug in the stands with Taraafter she won gold in thewomen’s long jump finalat the Olympics on Aug. 8. As she ran up to him after getting her final score, Hunter could be heard cheering.

Hunter Woodhall on Instagram.Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

Tara, 25, later told PEOPLE in an interview that she didn’t realize how viral the moment went online, but “that’s just Hunter and I.”

source: people.com