Paralympian Hunter Woodhall Learns He Needs Emergency Surgery While at the Hospital for Dad’s Open Heart Surgery

Mar. 15, 2025

Hunter Woodhall on Sept. 07, 2024.Photo:Joe Scarnici/Getty

Joe Scarnici/Getty

When Paralympic gold medalistHunter Woodhallwent to visit his dad who just had open heart surgery, he didn’t realize he’d be heading into surgery himself.

Woodhall revealed on hisInstagram Storiesthat he had to have the emergency procedure to remove his appendix during a visit to Utah to see his dad.

“Came to Utah to spend time with my dad after his open heart surgery,” the sprinter, 26, captioned a photo of himself on social media on Tuesday, March 4. “Yesterday I had horrible stomach pain, turns out I have to get [my] appendix removed. So, we will be recovering together.”

The same day, Woodhall posted a picture of himself on a hospital gurney. “Ready for a ‘lil emergency surgery,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “Didn’t need an appendix anyway.”

Hunter Woodhall (center) with his parents.Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

Four hours later, Woodhall was in recovery. The surgery had been a success.

“Just made it out of surgery,” Woodhall told followers. “Feeling pretty good, so everything went well. Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers.”

As is his custom, Woodhall added a bit of humor to the update. He paused to eat a cracker before saying, “Well, I’m straight. I didn’t need that appendix s— anyways.”

Hunter Woodhall posted about his surgery on Instagram Stories.Hunter Woodhall/Instagram

Woodhall has built a name for himself as a high-powered athlete, and as a source of support for the people he loves. When his wife,Tara Davis-Woodhall, wongold in the women’s long jump finalat the2024 Paris Olympics, the Team USA star ran up to him and got abig hug. “Babe, you’re the Olympic champion!” Hunter told his partner in a moment that quickly went viral.

Tom Weller/VOIGT/Getty

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“He’s my biggest supporter, and I guess the whole world got to see how much he supports me,” Tara, 25, told reporters, including PEOPLE, of their viral hug following her Olympic win.

In February, the couple celebrated that the Para National Championships will becombined with the Outdoor Championshipsfor the first time. Tara and Hunter are set to compete at the meet, which will take place at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene from July 31 to Aug. 2. The event will determine which athletes USA Track & Field takes to the world championships.

source: people.com