In kindergarten, Maggie broke her femur and chipped a growth plate, leading doctors to fear that her leg would not grow properly. Instead, she became a high school state long jump champion, a four-time NCAA D1 All American, an accomplished heptathlete and the US record holder in the javelin (since broken by NYAC teammate, Kara Winger). Not to be overlooked is that, with her victory at the Olympic Trials (a meet record of 64.58m/211-10) she is also, now, a three-time Olympian.
In 2016, despite becoming the first woman ever to win the NCAA D1 and US outdoor javelin titles in the same year, she did not advance to the final in that year’s Rio Olympic Games. In Tokyo in 2021 – the year in which she set the since broken US record of 67.40m/221-2, still her personal best – she had the second-best throw in the qualifying round, 63.07m/206-11, and in the final placed 10th with a mark of 59.82m/196-3. Indicators of this season are that Maggie’s third Games may be her best.
Maggie’s mother, Nancy Kindig-Malone, was an accomplished multi-eventer, on one occasion completing a relay with a fractured bone in her leg; the team won. Competitive mettle, it seems, is a family trait. Maggie’s sister, Audrey, was also a successful javelin thrower at their alma mater, Texas A&M.
Paris Result:
24th place, 58.76m/192-9; Eliminated in qualification round.