Joe Kovacs

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Joe Kovacs

| image = 2016-06 Kovacs Bislett.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Kovacs in June 2016

| fullname = Joseph Mathias Kovacs

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|6|28}}

| birth_place = Nazareth, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| height = 6 ft 0 in

| weight = 295 lb

| country = United States

| sport = Track and field

| event = Shot put

| collegeteam = Penn State (2008–2012)

| coach = Ashley Kovacs

| pb = {{ubl

|Shot put:

|Outdoor {{T&Fcalc|23.23}} (Zürich 2022)

|Indoor {{T&Fcalc|22.05}} (Geneva 2021)

}}

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}

}}

Joseph Mathias Kovacs ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|v|æ|k|s}} {{respell|KOH|vaks}}; born June 28, 1989){{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/joe-kovacs_1965246|title=KOVACS Joe |work=Paris 2024 Olympics |access-date=11 August 2024}} 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

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 {{convert|64|ft|10.75|in|m|abbr=on}} is the PIAA Class AA state record.[http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/kovacs_joe00.html Joe Kovacs Bio – Penn State Official Athletic Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908000433/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/kovacs_joe00.html |date=September 8, 2015 }}. Gopsusports.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2015. 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

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)[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/joe-kovacs-251167#progression Athlete profile for Joe Kovacs]. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015. at Tucson Elite Meet on May 18, 2013, which ranked him 6th in the US.[https://web.archive.org/web/20191221073004/http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/topMarks/2013/Outdoor-Men.aspx USA Track & Field – 2013 Top USA Outdoor Track & Field Marks – Men]. Usatf.org (December 30, 2013). Retrieved on May 28, 2015.

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 {{convert|70|ft|5.5|in|m|abbr=on}}.[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Athlete-Bios/Joe-Kovacs.aspx USA Track & Field – Joe Kovacs]. Usatf.org (June 28, 1989). Retrieved on May 28, 2015. 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 {{convert|22.03|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, 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 {{T&Fcalc|22.35}}[http://www.uclabruins.com/pdf9/3422157.pdf UCLA Rafer/JJK Collegiate Invitational – 4/10/2015 to 4/12/2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721194432/http://www.uclabruins.com/pdf9/3422157.pdf |date=July 21, 2015 }}. uclabruins.com 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.[http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/throws/shot-put/outdoor/men/senior Shot Put – men – senior – outdoor]. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015. He backed that up with his following throw over {{T&Fcalc|21.70}}. After winning his second National Championship in June, Kovacs improved again, adding another 21 cm to throw {{T&Fcalc|22.56}} at the Herculis meet in Monaco.[http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-diamond-league/herculis-5639/results/men/shot-put/final/result Shot Put Result | Herculis]. iaaf.org. Retrieved on August 19, 2016. 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 {{convert|21.78|m|ftin|abbr=off|sp=us}}. He finished behind teammate Ryan Crouser, who threw an Olympic Record {{convert|22.52|m|ftin|abbr=off|sp=us}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/rio-2016/athletics/shot-put-men|title = Rio 2016 shot put men Results - Olympic athletics}} 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

Kovacs is married to former collegiate shot-putter and Vanderbilt throwing coach Ashley Kovacs (née Muffet). In 2019, Ashley began coaching Joe professionally.{{cite web |title=Joe and Ashley Kovacs: The making of a human cannon |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/joe-and-ashley-kovacs-the-making-of-a-human-canon |website=Olympics.com |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808074958/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/joe-and-ashley-kovacs-the-making-of-a-human-canon |archive-date=8 August 2021 |date=18 June 2021 |url-status=dead}}

Kovacs is of Hungarian origin and has identified himself as a Hungarian-American.{{cite web|url=https://dailynewshungary.com/video-american-champion-athlete-my-heart-is-hungarian/ |title=VIDEO - American champion athlete: "My heart is Hungarian" - Daily News Hungary |date=20 August 2023 }}

References

External links

{{World Athletics}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150908000433/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/kovacs_joe00.html Joe Kovacs at Penn State University] (archived)
[http://www.legacy.usatf.org/usatf/files/14/14708be3-a929-4cf0-9c93-b6bff6e49ae1.pdf Joe Kovacs at legacy.USATF.org]
{{USATF}}
{{Team USA|new_id=joe-kovacs|old_id=KO/Joe-Kovacs|archive=20230318121858}}
{{Olympics.com profile}}
{{Olympedia}}