Kara Patterson

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: United States of America

DOB: April 10, 1986

Hometown: Chula Vista, CA

Career Highlights: The dominant female American javelin thrower over the last four years, Patterson is an outside candidate for a medal in London. While still competing as a junior, Patterson finished 19th in qualifying for the 2004 Olympics, but did qualify for the Games four years later, finishing a disappointing 41st. Unable to make her mark in international competition, she again failed to make it past the qualifying round of a major championships when she finished 29th at the 2009 worlds in Berlin. However, Patterson built on her USA Outdoor gold medals from 2008 and 2009 by making it four straight titles on the bounce with wins in 2010 and 2011. Her throw of 66.67 meters to win the 2010 crown saw her break the American record. Second at the trials to Brittany Borman, Patterson will be keen to make her mark on the international stage in London, although South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen and the Czech Republic's Barbora Spotakova are comfortably the in-form javelin athletes this season and are favorites to battle it out for gold.

Olympic History: 2008