Joe Kovacs (born June 28, 1989) is an American shot putter. He holds personal bests of 23.23 meters outdoors and 22.05 meters indoors, making him the second-best competitor all-time behind Ryan Crouser.
Kovacs won gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships in Athletics. He won silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics (throw of 21.78m) and 2020 Tokyo Olympics (22.65m).
Kovacs has also won two Diamond League titles (2022, 2023) and won silver medals at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships. He is a four-time All-American at Penn State University. Kovacs has been coached by his wife Ashley since 2019.
Joe Kovacs' Olympic Medal Wins
Joe Kovacs has won two Olympic silver medals in the shot put event.
| Olympic Games | Year | Medal | Result |
| Rio 2016 | 2016 | Silver | 21.78 meters |
| Tokyo 2020 | 2021 | Silver | 22.65 meters |
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Kovacs won the silver medal with a throw of 21.78 meters in the shot put final, narrowly missing out on the gold to his teammate Ryan Crouser's Olympic record of 22.52 meters.
Four years later, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kovacs once again claimed the silver medal with an impressive throw of 22.65 meters.
Joe Kovacs' Medals Breakdown
World Championships
| Year | Event | Medal |
| 2015 | Shot Put | Gold |
| 2017 | Shot Put | Silver |
| 2019 | Shot Put | Gold |
| 2022 | Shot Put | Silver |
| 2023 | Shot Put | Bronze |
Diamond League
2022: 1st Place (Shot Put)
2023: 1st Place (Shot Put)
Joe Kovacs' Olympic Appearances
Joe Kovacs has represented the United States at two Olympic Games. In 2016, he made his Olympic debut at the Rio Games, where he won the silver medal in the shot put event with a throw of 21.78 meters.
Four years later, Kovacs returned to the Olympic stage at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he once again won the silver medal with an impressive throw of 22.65 meters.
Joe Kovacs' Records & Achievements
Personal Best Outdoor: 23.23 meters (76 ft 2+1⁄2 in) (Zürich 2022)
Personal Best Indoor: 22.05 meters (72 ft 4 in) (Geneva 2021)
Second-best competitor all-time in the shot put event
4-time All-American at Penn State University
Penn State University record holder in shot put
Joe Kovacs’ Olympic Journey
Joe Kovacs, born on June 28, 1989, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, discovered his passion for shot put at Bethlehem Catholic High School under his mother and coach, Joanna. He attended Penn State University, where he became a four-time All-American and set school records in the event.
In 2015, Kovacs won the USATF outdoor, world outdoor, and Diamond League shot put titles, becoming the world's top-ranked shot putter. He qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, his first Olympic team, and won a silver medal.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kovacs won another silver medal in the shot put event. He has also won gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships, and silver medals in 2017 and 2022.
Since 2019, Kovacs has been coached by his wife, Ashley.
FAQ's On Joe Kovacs Medals
A. In his first year as a professional, Kovacs was sponsored by Nike, Inc.
A. Joe Kovacs attended The Pennsylvania State University.
A. Joe Kovacs weighs 134 kg (295 lb).
A. Two-time world champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Joe Kovacs is coached by his wife, Ashley Kovacs, who took over as his coach in 2019.
