Joseph Mathias Kovacs (born June 28, 1989) 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 and 2020 Summer Olympics. His personal best of 23.23 metres makes him the second best competitor all-time in the shot put event. Since college he was coached by Art Venegas, widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and the only coach to have athletes reach 73' with both the glide and rotational techniques in the shot put. Since 2019 he has been coached by his wife, Ashley Kovacs.
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 NCAADivision 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)[2] at Tucson Elite Meet on May 18, 2013 which ranks him 6th in the US.[3]
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)[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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' 5.5"). He finished behind teammate Ryan Crouser, who threw an Olympic Record 22.52 meters (73' 10.5").[8] 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
Personal lifeEdit
Kovacs is married to former collegiate shot-putter and Vanderbilt throwing coach Ashley Kovacs (Muffet). In 2019, Ashley began coaching Joe professionally.[9]
ReferencesEdit
^Joe Kovacs Bio – Penn State Official Athletic Site September 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Gopsusports.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
^Athlete profile for Joe Kovacs. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
^USA Track & Field – 2013 Top USA Outdoor Track & Field Marks – Men. Usatf.org (December 30, 2013). Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
^USA Track & Field – Joe Kovacs. Usatf.org (June 28, 1989). Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
^UCLA Rafer/JJK Collegiate Invitational – 4/10/2015 to 4/12/2015 July 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. uclabruins.com
^Shot Put – men – senior – outdoor. iaaf.org. Retrieved on May 28, 2015.
^Shot Put Result | Herculis. iaaf.org. Retrieved on August 19, 2016.
^"Rio 2016 shot put men Results - Olympic athletics".
^"Joe and Ashley Kovacs: The making of a human cannon".
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joe Kovacs.
kovacs, this, article, about, athlete, puppeteer, puppeteer, joseph, mathias, kovacs, born, june, 1989, american, track, field, athlete, competes, shot, personal, record, meters, outdoors, meters, indoors, gold, medals, 2015, 2019, world, championships, silver. This article is about the athlete For the puppeteer see Joe Kovacs puppeteer Joseph Mathias Kovacs born June 28 1989 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 and 2020 Summer Olympics His personal best of 23 23 metres makes him the second best competitor all time in the shot put event Since college he was coached by Art Venegas widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world and the only coach to have athletes reach 73 with both the glide and rotational techniques in the shot put Since 2019 he has been coached by his wife Ashley Kovacs Joe KovacsKovacs in 2016Personal informationFull nameJoseph Mathias KovacsNationalityAmericanBorn 1989 06 28 June 28 1989 age 34 Nazareth Pennsylvania U S Height6 ft 0 in 183 cm Weight295 lb 134 kg SportCountryUnited StatesSportTrack and fieldEvent s Shot putCollege teamPenn State 2008 2012 Coached byAshley KovacsAchievements and titlesPersonal best s Shot put Outdoor 23 23 m 76 ft 2 1 2 in Zurich 2022 Indoor 22 05 m 72 ft 4 in Geneva 2021 Medal record Men s athleticsRepresenting the United StatesOlympic Games2016 Rio de Janeiro Shot put2020 Tokyo Shot putWorld Championships2015 Beijing Shot put2019 Doha Shot put2017 London Shot put2022 Eugene Shot put2023 Budapest Shot putDiamond League2022 Shot put2023 Shot put Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Track and field career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditKovacs 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 1 He attended Pennsylvania State University Track and field career EditIn 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 2 at Tucson Elite Meet on May 18 2013 which ranks him 6th in the US 3 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 4 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 03m 72 3 5 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 5 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 6 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 7 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 5 5 He finished behind teammate Ryan Crouser who threw an Olympic Record 22 52 meters 73 10 5 8 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 BudapestPersonal life EditKovacs is married to former collegiate shot putter and Vanderbilt throwing coach Ashley Kovacs Muffet In 2019 Ashley began coaching Joe professionally 9 References Edit Joe Kovacs Bio Penn State Official Athletic Site Archived September 8 2015 at the Wayback Machine Gopsusports com Retrieved on May 28 2015 Athlete profile for Joe Kovacs iaaf org Retrieved on May 28 2015 USA Track amp Field 2013 Top USA Outdoor Track amp Field Marks Men Usatf org December 30 2013 Retrieved on May 28 2015 USA Track amp Field Joe Kovacs Usatf org June 28 1989 Retrieved on May 28 2015 UCLA Rafer JJK Collegiate Invitational 4 10 2015 to 4 12 2015 Archived July 21 2015 at the Wayback Machine uclabruins com Shot Put men senior outdoor iaaf org Retrieved on May 28 2015 Shot Put Result Herculis iaaf org Retrieved on August 19 2016 Rio 2016 shot put men Results Olympic athletics Joe and Ashley Kovacs The making of a human cannon External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joe Kovacs Joe Kovacs at World Athletics nbsp Joe Kovacs at Olympics at Sports Reference com archived nbsp https web archive org web 20150908000433 http www gopsusports com sports c track mtt kovacs joe00 html http www legacy usatf org usatf files 14 14708be3 a929 4cf0 9c93 b6bff6e49ae1 pdf Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Kovacs amp oldid 1179655737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
