The treatment plan, including a Tommy John surgery followed by a year and a half of extensive rehabilitation, forced Farnsworth to redshirt.

“Nick had to sit out his sophomore season,” co-captain Ablorde Ashigbi said. “But he still spent more time than anyone else at the track throughout that year, using his injury as an opportunity to improve other aspects of his athleticism and strength.”

This year marks Farnsworth’s first of healthy throwing. Based on his season so far, highlighted by a win this past weekend at Ole Miss and a huge victory at Rice where he threw his personal best, 64.65 meters, it appears that surgery was the right choice.

“It was a great meet overall, but it felt good to be able to go out and really compete for the first time since recovery,” Farnsworth said. “I was just happy to throw without pain and to actually enjoy throwing again.”

The accomplishment bumped him up from fifth in Harvard history, with his previous best of 61.43, to the No. 3 spot.

As Farnsworth improves, he inches closer to his ultimate goal, qualifying for the Olympic Trials next summer and, eventually, making the Olympic Team. He knows that this is a substantial undertaking, but coaches and teammates alike confirm that Farnsworth is capable.

“He definitely has a future in the javelin,” Ashigbi said. “He is, without a doubt, the most dedicated athlete I’ve met during my time here. He almost lives at the track and does everything he possibly can—that’s legal—to be the best javelin thrower he can.”