Kara Winger

Kara Estelle Winger stands as the top javelin athlete in America while maintaining the U.S. record at 68.11 m (223 ft 5 in) which she achieved in 2022. The javelin athlete has competed at four Olympic Games from 2008 through 2020 while winning national championships nine times and she became the first American woman to win a World Championships medal when she took silver in Eugene 2022.

Winger developed her javelin passion at Skyview High in Vancouver Washington before it flourished at Purdue University where she received All-American recognition and two Big Ten Championship titles while establishing an American collegiate record. She broke the American record in 2010 before regaining it in 2022 through her North American record throw in Brussels.

The two ACL reconstruction surgeries and shoulder injuries did not stop Winger from coming back stronger until she won her career-defining silver medal at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. “I felt every person in the stadium… So why wouldn’t I be happy?”. She took a brief retirement in 2023 before returning in 2024 to pursue her last Olympic competition which completed her athletic journey.

She resides in Colorado Springs with her husband Russell Winger who is also a thrower and their yellow lab Maddie while working at Parity to support women athletes. She obtained her MBA degree while continuing to play piano and maintain her interests in photography and backpacking and mentoring novice javelin athletes.

Kara Winger's path from Washington state athlete to international leader demonstrates her strength and her ability to transform while maintaining a constant commitment to enhance both athletic performance and emerging athletes.