Arkansas is full of “dynamic duos,” those couples and partners in business who’ve made lasting impacts on their communities. And they come in many different flavors, from community business leaders to those Arkansans making noise on a global stage.
Arkansas Money & Politics wants to recognize them each year, because their work in industry and commitment to philanthropy is something that should be recognized. We’re proud to do so here.
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When it comes to athletic power couples in Arkansas, Hunter and Tara Woodhall, married last fall, are among the first to come to mind.
When he was an infant, Hunter had both legs amputated as a result of a rare congenital disability which caused part of his fibula bones to be missing. Doctors told his parents that he would likely never walk, so he learned to run instead. Hunter became the first double-amputee track and field athlete to earn a Division I athletic scholarship, which he accepted at the University of Arkansas. He competed against able-bodied runners in the SEC before going on to compete in the Paralympics. He is a two-time Paralympian and three-time Paralympic medalist.
Tara Woodhall is an accomplished American track and field athlete and the American junior record holder for the indoor long jump. After breaking records at the University of Georgia, she transferred to the University of Texas, where she set more collegiate records. She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics and placed sixth in the women’s long jump Olympic final.
Based out of and training for their professional careers in Fayetteville, Tara and Hunter are influencers and ambassadors for major brands on social media. Plus, the Woodhalls have announced plans to build a training facility in Fayetteville.
