 Kara Winger in 2010 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kara Estelle Patterson (1986-04-10)April 10, 1986 (age 39) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1.75 in (187 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Website | karathrowsjavelin |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Javelin throw |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 1st (2023) |
| Personalbest | NR 68.11 m (2022) |
Medal record | |
Kara Estelle Winger (néePatterson; born April 10, 1986) is an Americantrack and field athlete who competes in thejavelin throw. She is theAmerican record holder in the javelin throw with a distance of 68.11 m (223 ft5+1⁄4 in).
At the2004 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), Patterson finished 19th with a distance of 42.60 m (139 ft 9 in).
In 2005, she won a silver medal at the2005 Pan Am Junior Games with a distance of 50.26 m (164 ft10+1⁄2 in).
Kara Patterson met her husbandRussell Winger when he won the silver medal at the2006 NACAC U23 Championships in Athletics Shot Put and she placed 7th in the javelin.[1] Winger told this story after placing 2nd the2019 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Javelin to championAriana Ince.[2]
At the2008 Olympic Trials, Winger won with a distance of 53.93 m. At the2008 Summer Olympics, Winger didn't make it past the qualifying round and finished 41st overall with a distance of 54.39 m.[3]
At the2009 World Trials, Winger won with a distance of 63.95 m. At the2009 World Championships in Athletics, Patterson didn't make it past the qualifying round and finished 29th overall with a distance of 52.71 m.
At the2010 US Track and Field Championships, Winger won with a distance of 63.95 m. On June 25, 2010, Patterson brokeKim Kreiner's American record of 64.19 m set in 2007 with a distance of 66.67 m.[4][5]
At the2011 World Trials, Winger won with a distance of 59.34 m. At the2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw, Winger threw 57.14 meters 21st place in the prelims.
At the2012 Olympic Trials, Winger earned second place with a distance of 59.79 m. At the2012 Summer Olympics, she finished 31st in the qualifying round, not reaching the final.
At the2013 World Trials, Winger earned third place with a distance of 55.88 m.
At the2014 US Track and Field Championships, Winger won with a distance of 62.43 m.
At the2015 World Trials, Winger won with a distance of 64.94 m. At the2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw, Winger threw 62.21 m in the prelims to qualify for the final and 60.88 meters in the final to place 8th.
Winger placed 17th with a throw of 59.71 m (195 ft10+3⁄4 in) atAthletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw.
At the2020 Summer Olympics, Winger carried the flag of the United States of America at the closing ceremonies.
At the2022 World Athletics Championships, Winger won a silver medal, which made her the first American woman to win a medal in javelin at any World Athletics Championships.[6]
At the2022 NACAC Championships, Winger won and threw 64.68 m (212 ft2+1⁄4 in) which set aNACAC Championship record. At the2022 Diamond League final in Brussels, Winger threw an area record (ARNorth American record), andNRUS record 68.11 m (223 ft5+1⁄4 in) in Javelin.
Winger (still Kara Patterson at the time) earned her first invitation to theworld championships in 2009, while still at Purdue. She fouled on her initial attempt, then threw only 48.88 m on a second attempt. Her third throw went 52.02 m qualifying her as seventh out of eight to make the finals. She fouled again during the finals, but then beat the rest of the field by more than 4 m (13 ft).[7] Her throw of 63.95 m was a career-best and 0.24 m shy of the national record. She was unable to perform that well in Berlin. Her best throw inBerlin was 52.71 m earning her 28th place.[8]
Winger entered the USA track and field championships held inEugene, Oregon in 2011. She recorded 194.67 ft (59.34 m) to beat her nearest competitor by 14 ft (4.3 m). This throw guaranteed her entry into the 2011 World Championships inDaegu,South Korea. Her best throw in the world championships was 57.1 point meters, placing her 20th. She did not qualify for the finals.[9]
In 2012, Winger suffered an ACL injury. She returned to competition in 2013, but was unable to qualify for the2013 World Championships held in Moscow.[10]
In 2015, Winger earned an invitation to theWorld Championships in Athletics held in Beijing. All 32 qualifiers compete in the initial qualification event, with the top 12 going on to the finals round. Winger's throw of 62.21 m placed her in twelfth, only 0.04 m ahead of the 13th position. In the finals round, her best throw was 60.88 m, finishing in 8th place.[11]
Winger earned an invitation to the2017 World Championships held in London. In the qualifying round, she threw 61.27 m and finished 15th.[12]
Winger qualified for the2019 world championships held inDoha, Qatar.[13] In the qualifying round she finished seventh with a throw of 62.13 m. She finished fifth with a throw of 63.23 m, the best ever by an American at the world championships.[14][15][16][17][18]
In 2022, Winger initially announced she would be retiring after this season making this year'sWorld Championships her last major international event in her career.[19][20] In the qualifier round, Winger threw 61.3 m for fourth in the standings. On her final throw in the finals, she managed 64.05 m for second place. It was the first ever medal earned by an American in the women's javelin at the World Championships.[14][21]
Winger was born inSeattle, Washington in 1986, the daughter of Bruce and Rona Patterson. She went to Alki Middle School and is a 2004 graduate ofSkyview High School inVancouver, Washington. She attendedPurdue University and graduated in 2009, majoring in nutrition, fitness and health. She lives with fellow athleteRussell Winger,[22] whom she married in September 2014.
| Year | Place | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Olympic Trials | 2nd | 62.94 m (206 ft5+3⁄4 in) |
| 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 64.26 m (210 ft9+3⁄4 in) |
| 2021 Olympic Trials | 2nd | 61.47 m (201 ft 8 in) |
| 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 2nd | 59.73 m (195 ft11+1⁄2 in) |
| 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 62.88 m (206 ft 4 in) |
| 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 62.80 m (206 ft 0 in) |
| 2016 Olympic Trials | 3rd | 57.90 m (190 ft 0 in) |
| 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 64.94 m (213 ft 1 in) |
| 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 62.43 m (204 ft9+3⁄4 in) |
| 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 3rd | 55.88 m (183 ft 4 in) |
| 2012 Olympic Trials | 2nd | 59.79 m (196 ft1+3⁄4 in) |
| 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 59.34 m (194 ft 8 in) |
| 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 66.67 m (218 ft8+3⁄4 in) NR |
| 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | 1st | 63.95 m (209 ft9+1⁄2 in) |
| 2008 Olympic Trials | 1st | 61.51 m (201 ft9+1⁄2 in) |
| Event | Best (m) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javelin throw (outdoor) | 68.11AR,NR | Brussels,Belgium | September 2, 2022 |
Key: AR = Area record, NR = National record
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Claiming eight U.S. National titles required Winger to recover from multiple setbacks, including a left shoulder surgery, serious back injuries, and multiple ACL tears.
Facing the last throw in a global final in her remarkable career after announcing she would be retiring following this season,
Winger has said she's retiring after this year. She'll compete in a few European meets later this summer, but as far as championships, Friday night was Winger's swan song.
