My name is Kelsey Card and I wanted to share a bit about myself and how I got started with the throwing events.

I started learning the discus throw in the 5th grade. I started competing in 7th grade and picked up the shot put along the way. I won state titles in each event in both 7th and 8th grade. I continued to throw in high school and started to get more serious about it my sophomore year after I stopped playing club volleyball. I continued to play school volleyball and basketball to be a well-rounded athlete. I visited several schools my junior year of high school and after a week at throws camp in Wisconsin, I fell in love with Madison and all it has to offer. I committed to be a Badger right at the start of my senior year of high school. A hip injury prohibited me from completing my senior volleyball and basketball seasons but I made it back in time for track season and became the first woman in Illinois history to win state titles in both shot and disc for all four years.

At Wisconsin I competed both indoor and outdoors my freshman and sophomore years. I then redshirted both seasons my junior year and switched to from the glide to the spin in shot put and started to find my stride with the discus. My two final years as a Badger were amazing and filled with memories and experiences I will never forget. Following graduation in May 2016 I won an NCAA title in the discus throw and also qualified for the Rio Olympics in the same event, where I went on to place as the top American.

I am still currently training in Madison, WI with my college coach and team. Making the transition to being post-collegiate/professional has been an up and down journey and I look forward to this season.