As he begins his final season throwing the javelin for Duke's track & field team, John Austin has already achieved a special goal. The first-year MMS* student from Mechanicsburg, Pa., has come back from a surgical procedure that often ends the careers of javelin throwers.
The procedure, popularly known as Tommy John surgery, is named for the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who was the first to have the surgery, back in 1974. The surgery replaces a torn elbow ligament with one from elsewhere in the body.
Surgeons performed the surgery on Austin after his freshman season. Dr. David Ruch, chief of orthopedic hand service at Duke Medical Center, led the surgical team.
"The surgeons said if I ever wanted to throw again without pain, I had to have the surgery," Austin says.
Generally the Tommy John surgery typically means at least a 12-month recovery. But Austin's surgeons set a more ambitious goal.
"Dr. Ruch said I could get back to where I was in nine months. I followed his instructions and worked with the therapists at Duke to try to secure that goal. Nine months out, I was actually ahead of where I had been."
Following the surgery and extensive rehab, Austin returned to set a Duke school record and earn All-ACC, All-Region and All-America honors. His recovery year was far beyond what he could have expected.
"I came to Duke not only for the academics, but also for the athletics," says Austin. "Coming out of surgery, I had my fingers crossed. I was determined to compete, and everyone knew what I was going to put into it to make sure I could throw again."
As he enters his final season, Austin admits he's thinking about the biggest competition of all.
"I'd like to see what I can do this season. If I throw 76 meters this year, it's going to be very hard for me to turn my back on my Olympic dream."
* This story originally misstated the degree program in which Austin is participating.