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Joe Kovacs

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This article is about the athlete. For the puppeteer, see Joe Kovacs (puppeteer).

Joe Kovacs
Kovacs in June 2016
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Mathias Kovacs
Born (1989-06-28) June 28, 1989 (age 35)
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight295 lb (134 kg)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack and field
EventShot put
College teamPenn State (2008–2012)
Coached byAshley Kovacs
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Shot put:
  • Outdoor 23.23 m (76 ft 2+1⁄2 in) (Zürich 2022)
  • Indoor 22.05 m (72 ft 4 in) (Geneva 2021)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Shot put
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Shot put
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Shot put
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Beijing Shot put
Gold medal – first place 2019 Doha Shot put
Silver medal – second place 2017 London Shot put
Silver medal – second place 2022 Eugene Shot put
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Budapest Shot put
Diamond League
First place 2022 Shot put
First place 2023 Shot put

Joseph Mathias Kovacs (/ˈkoʊvæks/ KOH-vaks; born June 28, 1989)[1] is an American track and field athlete who competes in the shot put and has a personal record of 23.23 meters outdoors and 22.05 meters indoors. He won gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. He won silver medals at the 2017 World Championships, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. His personal best of 23.23 metres makes him the second best competitor all-time in the shot put event.

Early life and education

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Kovacs was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania on June 28, 1989. He excelled at Bethlehem Catholic High School in track and field, winning PIAA titles in discus and shot put during his senior season. The winning shot put mark of 64 ft 10.75 in (19.7803 m) is the PIAA Class AA state record.[2] He attended Pennsylvania State University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Earth and Mineral Science. He completed graduate classes in Counselor Education while pursuing track and field.

Track and field career

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In his first year as a professional, Kovacs was sponsored by Nike, Inc. He missed the podium with a 4th-place finish in the United States Olympic Trials with a best throw of 21.08m/69-2, placed 4th at the NCAA Division I outdoor championships with a best throw of 19.58 m (65–1.5 feet), but won the shot put at the Big Ten Conference outdoor championships with a best throw of 20.85 m (68–5 feet). He enjoyed a success filled summer on the European track circuit with 2nd in Paris (20.44 meters, 67–0.75 feet); 2nd in Madrid (19.56 meters, 64–2.25 feet) and 6th in London (19.61 meters, 64–4 feet).

Kovacs, in his second year as a professional, threw a season best of 20.82 meters (68–3.75 feet)[3] at Tucson Elite Meet on May 18, 2013, which ranked him 6th in the US.[4]

Kovacs won the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with his first 70-foot throw. He then placed 3rd at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 70 ft 5.5 in (21.476 m).[5] On June 25, 2014, Joe Kovacs won the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at a special venue in front of the California State Capitol, with a personal best of 22.03 m (72 ft 3 in), the top throw in the world for 2014.

As a guest competitor at the UCLA hosted Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational on April 11, 2015, Kovacs improved his personal best (though not a stadium record) with a 22.35 m (73 ft 3+3⁄4 in)[6] to again take the early season world lead, by almost a full meter at the time. It was the farthest throw in the world since 2010 and ranked him as the No. 12 performer of all time.[7] He backed that up with his following throw over 21.70 m (71 ft 2+1⁄4 in). After winning his second National Championship in June, Kovacs improved again, adding another 21 cm to throw 22.56 m (74 ft 0 in) at the Herculis meet in Monaco.[8] That throw moved him past four Americans to the number 8 performer in history and the best throw since 2003.

On July 1, 2016, Kovacs qualified for his first Olympic team by finishing in second place at the Olympic Trials. He then won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics with a throw of 21.78 meters (71 feet 5 inches). He finished behind teammate Ryan Crouser, who threw an Olympic Record 22.52 meters (73 feet 11 inches).[9] On Oct 5, 2019, Kovacs won the gold medal at the Outdoor World Championships with a 22.91 meter Shot Put on his final throw of the event. He was coached by his wife and they are featured in an Olympic Channel feature commercial together.

Joe Kovacs placed 3rd at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest.

Kovacs won silver medal in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, behind team mate Ryan Crouser.

Personal life

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Kovacs is married to former collegiate shot-putter and Vanderbilt throwing coach Ashley Kovacs (Muffet). In 2019, Ashley began coaching Joe professionally.[10] Kovacs is of Hungarian origin and has identified himself as a Hungarian-American.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "KOVACS Joe". Paris 2024 Olympics. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Joe Kovacs Bio – Penn State Official Athletic Site Archived September 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Gopsusports.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Athlete profile for Joe Kovacs. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
  4. ^ USA Track & Field – 2013 Top USA Outdoor Track & Field Marks – Men[permanent dead link‍]. Usatf.org (December 30, 2013). Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
  5. ^ USA Track & Field – Joe Kovacs. Usatf.org (June 28, 1989). Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
  6. ^ UCLA Rafer/JJK Collegiate Invitational – 4/10/2015 to 4/12/2015 Archived July 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. uclabruins.com
  7. ^ Shot Put – men – senior – outdoor. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Shot Put Result | Herculis. iaaf.org. Retrieved on August 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "Rio 2016 shot put men Results - Olympic athletics".
  10. ^ "Joe and Ashley Kovacs: The making of a human cannon". Olympics.com. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "VIDEO - American champion athlete: "My heart is Hungarian" - Daily News Hungary". August 20, 2023.
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