Above: Watch the Post-Competition Press Conference at the Paris Olympics.
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PARIS - There is no slowing Joe.
For a third straight Olympic Games, Pennsylvania Native Joe Kovacs has earned Shot Put Silver.
Longevity is hard to come across in this sport. Most athletes dream about making it to one Olympic Championship, but few can fathom qualifying for three. No-one can imagine winning three-straight-silvers. But, that is exactly what Kovacs has done.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kovacs threw 21.71m to advance out of the first round. During last Saturday's final, he fouled twice and was positioned in fifth heading into his final effort.
Then, he unleashed a throw of 22.15m (72-08) to claim his Silver Medal. Fellow American, Ryan Crouser took home the Gold with his throw of 22.90m, and Jamaican Rajindra Campbell took third with his respective throw of 22.15m.
His Origin Story
Kovacs is originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bethlehem Catholic in 2007.
During his time there, Kovacs was a double PIAA State Champion and won the 2A Discus and the 2A Shot Put during his senior season.
He then attended and competed for Penn State University where he had a storied career as a Nittany Lion.
He now has won three Olympic Medals, two World Championships (2015 Beijing and 2019 Doha), and a list of other accolades to his name. He is now 35 years-old but shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
