Olympic Dreams

Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coat Maggie Malone ’16 competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the javelin throw, only three years after she began training for the event.

A transfer from the University of Nebraska, Malone was a four-sport athlete in high school, participating in volleyball, basketball, track and softball—sports that helped her develop the arm strength and technique required to hurl the 1.5-pound javelin.

A human resources major with minors in business and communication, she is the first female javelin thrower to win the NCAA Track and Field Championship title and Olympic Trials title in the same season, and only the third thrower ever to accomplish this feat. She set a collegiate record with her NCAA throw of 62.19 meters, while her throw at the Olympic Trials registered 60.84 meters.

Her throw of 56.47 meters in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games qualification round was not enough to advance her to finals, but she won’t let that stop her.

“I loved competing for my country against the best athletes in the world,” Malone said. “I needed this experience to push me into the next phase of my career. I was the baby out there this time, but I'm going to work hard, get more international experience and come back for the next three Olympics, God willing. I feel so fortunate to represent the United States, Nebraska and Aggieland.”