How does a young girl from Jetzendorf, Germany, throw a 600-gram javelin and rise to compete on national and international stages? For Konstanze Irlinger, it started with a simple decision: soccer or track and field.
“I would’ve been the only girl on the soccer team in my hometown,” she said with a laugh. “So, I chose track and field, also because my mom used to do it too.”
From first grade on, Konstanze was hooked. She competed in her first events during elementary school and quickly discovered her talent for throwing.
“Joining the kids’ track and field program at my hometown club introduced me to all kinds of disciplines — running, jumping, throwing. But I discovered early on that I had a talent for ball throwing,” she said.
That talent led her to explore other throwing disciplines, and eventually, she found her passion: javelin.
Without a dedicated javelin coach at her small hometown club, and with javelin being a discipline where perfect technique is everything, Konstanze had to get creative.
“Drawing from her own youth, my mother passed on what she once learned in track and field.”
Together, they turned to YouTube videos, experimented with technique and practiced relentlessly.
Her talent didn’t go unnoticed. At a winter competition in Munich, Germany, a regional squad coach approached her, impressed by her performance, and invited her to train at the state’s performance center where she continued to thrive in a professional training environment.
But in early 2023, Konstanze’s journey took a painful turn. At the German Winter Throwing Championships, she felt a sharp pain in her elbow right after a throw. “I think my technique was slightly off,” she said. “At first, I didn’t worry too much; overuse injuries are pretty common in throwing sports. But when the pain didn’t go away, I knew it was time to see a doctor.”
Konstanze was referred to Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Lenich (Munich, Germany), head of the Munich Center for Elbow and Shoulder Therapy and a specialist in elbow injuries with experience treating javelin throwers. “My coach recommended him. He had treated another athlete in our group,” she said. “I felt confident in his expertise.”
Imaging revealed a complete tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), a serious injury for any javelin thrower.
“After conservative treatment failed to resolve Konstanze’s pain, it was her wish to do surgery,” said Dr. Lenich.
In August 2023, he performed a UCL reconstruction surgery, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, to reconstruct Konstanze’s torn ligament. Using the Arthrex InternalBrace™ technique, he reinforced the gracilis tendon graft, providing strong fixation and support for early progressive range of motion.1
Post-surgery, Konstanze focused on rebuilding strength and stability. “I did a lot of underarm and shoulder work to support the ligament with muscle,” she said. “And of course, core and leg strength too.” By January the next year, she was throwing light balls again, gradually working her way back to full javelin throws.
In May, Konstanze returned to competition and began building momentum, but what followed surprised everyone. In July, she threw a personal best of 53.58 meters at the German U18 Championships, securing the national title. Just weeks later, she stunned the field at her debut European Championships: Konstanze claimed silver at the U18 European Championships in Banská Bystrica. Her final throw of 57.64 meters with the 500-gram javelin soared nearly 3 meters beyond the previous German U18 record set four years earlier.
This season, she transitioned to the heavier 600-gram javelin, a challenge she met head-on. At the U20 European Championships in Tampere, Finland, she placed seventh, solidifying her position among Europe’s top young talents.
Thanks to the innovative support of Arthrex products and expert surgical care, Konstanze didn’t just return to the sport she loves — she came back stronger and more determined, with her sights set higher than ever.
Her next goal: The U20 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. “The qualification period starts in April,” she said. “I’ll need to throw at least 50 meters again — but I’m confident.”