Kara Winger retired from a javelin career unmatched in American history at the end of the 2022 season. She overcame much adversity in the span of four Olympic Games, six World Championships teams, and nine U.S. titles, and credits coaches, athletic trainers, and her family for playing pivotal roles in the development of her trademark perseverance. While a second career ACL tear in 2020 threatened the final two seasons that Kara had planned for herself, teamwork with those around her, personal work in therapy, and difficult-but-respectful conversations about how she needed to move forward propelled her to new heights. Her final Olympic team in Tokyo did not result in the Finals berth she dreamed of, but instead the honor of a lifetime: A peer vote as not only women’s track and field team captain, but the Team USA Closing Ceremony flag bearer. Propelled by that core feeling of acceptance, her final season was fueled by celebration from the outset, and resulted in the first ever women’s javelin World Championships medal (silver) for the United States, her first personal best in 12 years and second career American Record with a world-leading 68.11m (223’5″) mark, and the Diamond League title (the first for an American javelin thrower in the league’s 10-year history), all resulting in a World #1 Ranking on the season. She continues to contribute to the throws community through announcing gigs, javelin clinics, and her own personal mission to coach coaches in javelin technique, as she believes strongly in the gift of coaching and the power of coach-athlete relationships.
