Kara Estelle Winger (née Patterson; born April 10, 1986) is an American track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw.

At the 2004 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), Patterson finished 19th with a distance of 42.60 m (139 ft 9 in).

Kara Patterson met her husband Russell Winger when he won the silver medal at the 2006 NACAC U23 Championships in Athletics Shot Put and she placed 7th in the javelin.

[1] Winger told this story after placing 2nd the 2019 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Javelin to champion Ariana Ince.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Winger carried the flag of the United States of America at the closing ceremonies.

Winger (still Kara Patterson at the time) earned her first invitation to the world championships in 2009, while still at Purdue.

[8] Winger entered the USA track and field championships held in Eugene, Oregon in 2011.

[14][15][16][17][18] In 2022, Winger initially announced she would be retiring after this season making this year's World Championships her last major international event in her career.

[14][21] Winger was born in Seattle, Washington in 1986, the daughter of Bruce and Rona Patterson.