Winger, a Skyview High School graduate, is a four-time Olympian
VANCOUVER — On Monday (Oct. 25), Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle presented Olympic athlete Kara Winger with a Key to the City.
Winger, who competes in the javelin throw and is a four-time Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020), graduated in 2004 from Skyview High School in Clark County. She is an eight-time USA Outdoor World Track and Field champion, has represented the United States at five World Championships and medaled twice at the Pan American Games, winning gold in 2019 and silver in 2015.
“Kara has made the city of Vancouver, the state of Washington and our entire country proud by not only competing, but also excelling on the international stage and earning a spot in Olympic history,” Mayor McEnerny-Ogle said. “She has the heart of a champion and embodies the true spirit of commitment to excellence, dedication and achieving success.”
At the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this year, Winger served as one of two captains of the track and field team and represented the entire U.S. Olympic Team by carrying the flag in the closing ceremonies.
“For them to vote for me to carry that flag was amazing,” said Winger. “It’s been months and I still don’t have the words to describe how great it felt. It’s a dream I didn’t know to dream. I’ve lived all over the world temporarily, and I’ve lived across the country, but Vancouver is always my loudest and strongest support system.”
Winger, now 35 years old, plans to compete for one more year and recently began training to qualify for the World Athletic Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, in the summer of 2022.
Winger is the second Olympic hometown hero to be honored this year. In August, gymnast Jordan Chiles was also presented with a Key to the City. Chiles graduated from Prairie High School in 2019. She competed in the vault, floor exercise and balance beam events at the summer Olympics and won a silver medal for Team USA in the women’s artistic all-around event.
Read the associated proclamation.
Information provided by city of Vancouver.
