Kara Winger, an eight-time national champion and the only American female javelin thrower to qualify to compete in four Olympics along with being a United States team captain in Tokyo in addition to triple jumper Will Claye, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss what it means to capable to return to an elite global level one year after tearing the ACL in her left knee for the second time in her career. Winger, 35, shares the significance of sharing the experience with new American record holder Maggie Malone and Ariana Ince, in addition to having the support of coaches and friends Dana Pounds and Jamie Myers with her in Tokyo. Winger, a Pan American gold medalist and NACAC champion in her career, reflects on returning to competition May 22 in Tucson, Ariz., which was nine months following her operation, and the continued support she has received from fellow throwers and other athletes in the track and field community. She explains the emotions of being present when Malone first eclipsed her American record May 29 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Southern California with a 219-3 (66.82m) effort, and then her reaction to Malone improving on the mark July 17 with a 221-1 (67.40m) performance at American JavFest in Pennsylvania. Winger revisits the mental and emotional challenges of competing June 25-26 at the Olympic Trials and expressing gratitude for being able to qualify again to throw in Tokyo. She examines the depth of the competition, including world leader Maria Andrejczyk of Poland surpassing the 70-meter mark, and what it will require to not only make the final, but secure a medal, as an American female javelin thrower has not made the Olympic podium since Kate Schmidt earned bronze in both 1972 and 1976. Winger, who finished 13th in Olympic qualifying in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and missed advancing to the final by two feet, analyzes her training in preparation for the Olympics and whether she feels capable of returning to a 64-meter level for the first time since 2019 or even approach her personal-best 218-8 (66.67m) from 2010.