An Athlete’s New Purpose: How a Stress Fracture Led to Javelin Success

Izaak Siefken’s journey from a Division I baseball pitcher to a champion javelin thrower is a story of resilience and finding a new passion after a major setback. What began with a sore arm and a stress fracture in his elbow at the University of Illinois ultimately led him to find a new identity at Colorado Mesa University.

Siefken’s injury started a new, and more difficult, battle with what he calls “the yips”—a form of performance anxiety. He found he could no longer consistently throw strikes, and his coaches lost confidence in him. He knew it was time to walk away from the sport he had dedicated his life to, but he wasn’t ready to give up on being an athlete.

During his recovery, he discovered the sport of javelin. He watched instructional videos and connected with an athlete who had a similar experience with performance anxiety. Siefken bought the cheapest javelin he could find and began to teach himself the sport. He decided to test himself at a meet as an unattached athlete, and to his surprise, he won. His new success caught the attention of the Colorado Mesa track and field coaches, and he joined the team.

Since his pivot to javelin, Siefken has found success he didn’t have in baseball. He has shattered his school’s program record and won his first conference title. The experience has also given him a new perspective on life. He has learned that “what you do isn’t who you are,” and that there’s more to life than just athletics. He now gets “butterflies” before a meet, not anxiety, and credits his family and faith with helping him find peace with his past struggles and embrace his new path.