Coach and faith propel javelin thrower Maggie Malone Hardin to third Olympics

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - “I got out of my own way. Or God helped me get out of my own way.”

In June, former Husker and Aggie Maggie Malone Hardin punched her ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 64.58m throw, breaking the U.S. Olympic Trials record. Eight years removed from her Olympic debut, Malone Hardin believes she’s hitting her sweet spot thanks in large part to her faith.

“That difference from 2021 to now, feels like I’ve accepted and I can compete boldly which is what I’ve been praying for-- just like a boldness,” said Malone Hardin the day before she headed to Europe.

Malone Hardin’s coach and now husband Sam Hardin has been with her every step of the way. Hardin, a former Texas A&M javelin thrower, gave up his dream of making an Olympic team back in 2021 in order to coach Maggie.

“I had not felt like I had somebody I got to do this with and I felt like I for a long time-- since 2016 was on an island trying to navigate this by myself,” said Malone Hardin trying to fight back tears. “And so to have somebody step into that and say hey I’m going to be here for you and I will help you figure this out… I love him so much.”

In 2022, Malone Hardin and her husband moved back to Nebraska where she works at the Arbor Day Foundation in Lincoln. She’s also an assistant track and field coach for the Huskers.

“This has been one of the best seasons of my whole life because of the community. Because the people I grew up with are here, my family’s here,” Malone Hardin said. “It’s such a joy. Nebraska is amazing-- it’s not for everybody– but it’s amazing.”

While Malone Hardin has had seasons where she’s thrown farther, she’s now found a bigger meaning in competing.

“You can find joy in the suffering because you’re going to suffer a lot. But if you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing and you’re having that faith, I feel like it is the propeller to keep you going,” said Malone Hardin.

Despite being the sixth-ranked women’s javelin thrower in the world, Malone Hardin is an unsponsored athlete. To help pay for travel, equipment, and coaching, the Nebraska native relies on her day job and donations to fund her professional career.

To support Malone Hardin, you can purchase customized apparel here.

You can also donate directly to Malone Hardin’s Olympic Fund via Venmo here.

The women’s javelin qualifying round begins Wednesday, August 7th at 3:25 a.m. CT. The qualification round will be broadcast live on USA Network.

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