Kara Winger
Olympic Hopeful for Tokyo 2020
Track & Field - Javelin Throw
In Olympic City USA, dedication counts. Setting goals and working hard to reach them is crucial to making dreams reality. Kara Winger, the American record holder for the javelin throw, is living proof that dedication will take you far. Winger recently won a gold medal at the Pan-American Games, and placed fifth at the World Championships. We asked Kara to share her unique insight on the importance of dedication and how living here in Olympic City USA inspires her to be her best.
In this second part of our interview, Kara talks about her inspirations, achievements, and motivation.
Q: What inspires you about training in Colorado Springs?
A: Not only do I spend a lot of time at the [U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center], but my coach and a big part of my heart are at the United States Air Force Academy. Former Air Force Major Dana Lyon has been my technical leader for two seasons so far, and the track and field staff and cadets of the Academy have welcomed me on their campus since 2013. It’s incredibly inspiring to look around me and realize that these kids have chosen a path of service before self. I feel patriotic as an Olympic athlete, but that feeling multiplies immensely when I consider the company I’m in at practice on the north end of town.
I’m also passionate about the outdoors! Whether it’s my daily walk with Maddie the Dog (our yellow lab) on our favorite neighborhood paths or a longer foray into the mountains for ice fishing or snowshoeing this time of year, I adore the Colorado sunshine. The ability to enjoy the outdoors and therefore, stay well-rounded is really important to me, especially after growing up in the rainy-but-gorgeous Pacific Northwest.
Q: Who was your athletic inspiration? What about them struck you as worthy of emulating?
A: One of my biggest inspirations in college was Dana, my coach now. As a cadet at USAFA, she was a two-time NCAA javelin champion at a whopping 5’2” tall. We met in 2005 at a small meet at Cal Berkeley, and she was instrumental in the relationship that formed between my future husband and I when we were on a developmental team together in 2006. I absolutely loved being around her feisty fire and simultaneous caring nature and those are some of the best things about her now being my coach.
I was never someone who had heroes, but when I saw a fellow Washingtonian, Erica Wheeler, win a javelin national championship at my first ever junior competition at the national level in 2003, I was blown away. Erica is now a Paralympic throws coach in Chula Vista. To now have somewhat of a peer relationship with her blows me away! I genuinely believe that all kids need some exposure to these weird, interesting sports, and they’ll soon see that there’s something in athletics for literally everybody. I didn’t know much about the javelin at the time. The fact that Erica grew up where I did and was succeeding at the highest level in the country meant that I wanted to be just like her. Still do!
Q: Competing at your level requires dedication-what helps you stay motivated?
A: One of the reasons my husband is such a motivator to me is that he got so close to two Olympic teams. I want so badly to succeed for both of us! And the fact that he agrees that I have unfinished business in the sport makes me want to be the best I can be.
My coaches are huge motivation for me, too. Dana is my technical coach, and Jamie Myers has been my strength coach for a whole decade. When I made the transition to Dana as my coach two years ago, Jamie started writing all of my training rather than just the strength and conditioning stuff. He grants me quite a bit of autonomy in including specific drills and rehab things I’ve learned over my career, and the absolute trust that we have in each other is so dear to me. He has been my coach longer than any other person in any sport in my whole life. Having two of my closest friends (Jamie’s wife, Maggie, was also my Matron of Honor) as coaches just take my motivation to succeed on the field of play to a whole other level. The fact that they care about me as a human more than they do about my sporting outcome makes me want to throw over the moon for them!
Thirdly, field events are just so fun. Everyone gets their own little opportunity to be great, apart from everyone else’s. I have absolutely no effect on someone else’s results and vice versa, so there is so much room for fabulous friendships! I cannot believe the incredible international and domestic relationships I’ve formed through this sport and the awesome places I’ve gotten to train and live around the world because of the amazing, lovely women involved in it. I can’t imagine the world view I might have without javelin, and I’m so grateful for the way it has expanded every one of my horizons.
Relationships motivate me. Keeping them strong. Honoring them. Forming them. All of it.
Q: What has been your proudest athletic achievement?
A: I’m still the American Record Holder (ten years now), but the further I get away from that, the more it feels like an accident. My technique is so much better now, and I can’t wait to break it again after all this time!
The end of the 2019 season was so special. Dana, Jamie and I had been a team for two short years, and I ended the year as Pan-American Games Gold Medalist, winner of The Match (USA vs. Europe), and fifth at the World Championships (the best finish ever by an American female javelin thrower at that meet). I had a few major failures in the year as well, so the way that I worked with my people to turn it around will forever be one of my favorite memories. I can’t wait for 2020!
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Kara talks to students about the importance of dedication and her passion for the javelin throw.
Did you miss Part 1 of Brandon Laney's interview with Colorado Springs athlete Kara Winger? Read it HERE.
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