Joe Kovacs

Birth dateJun 28, 1989

BirthplaceBethlehem, United States

Height1.83 m

Weight133 kg

Joe Kovacs, born June 28, 1989, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is an American shot putter whose personal best of 23.23 meters outdoors makes him the second best competitor of all time in the event.

He also holds a personal best of 22.05 meters indoors.

Kovacs has been a dominant force on the global stage, winning gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 World Championships. He has also collected an impressive array of Olympic silver medals at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Games, as well as a silver at the 2017 World Championships, establishing himself as one of the most consistent shot putters in history.

Key facts

Shot Put

23.23

#2 all-time

2026 season best

22.58

May 31, 2026 · Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR)

2026 season best

Last competition

Allianz Memorial van Damme

Sep 4, 2026 · 22.09

Allianz Memorial van Damme

Medals

Olympic Games: 3 silver · World Championships: 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze

Age

37 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Shot Put 23.23 (#2 all-time), 2026 season best 22.58 (May 31, 2026, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR)) · Last competition: Allianz Memorial van Damme, Sep 4, 2026, 22.09 · Olympic Games: 3 silver · World Championships: 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze · 37 years old

Personal bests

23.23

#2 all-time

56.08

61.50

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	-	3	-	3
World Championships	2	2	1	5
Total	2	5	1	8

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2026	SP	22.58	-	May 31, 2026	↓	Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme de Rabat
2025	SP	22.48	-	Jul 5, 2025	↓	Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline
2024	SP	23.13	-	May 25, 2024	↓	Prefontaine Classic
2023	SP	22.93	-	Sep 17, 2023	↓	Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline
2022	SP	23.23	-	Sep 7, 2022	↓	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
2021	SP	22.72	-	May 1, 2021	↓	Jesse Owens Stadium, Columbus, OH (USA)
2020	SP	21.34	-	Feb 8, 2020	↓	NYRR Millrose Games, Armory Track&Field Center, New York, NY (i)
2019	SP	22.91	-	Oct 5, 2019	↓	IAAF World Championships in Athletics
2018	SP	21.02	-	Jun 13, 2018	↓	Golden Spike Ostrava 2018, Mestský Stadion, Ostrava
2017	SP	22.57	-	May 18, 2017	↓	Tucson, AZ (USA)
2016	SP	22.13	-	May 27, 2016	↓	Eugene Prefontaine Classic
2015	SP	22.56	-	Jul 17, 2015	↓	Monaco Herculis
2014	SP	22.03	-	Jun 25, 2014	↓	Sacramento, CA (USA)
2013	SP	20.82	-	May 16, 2013	↓	Tucson, AZ (USA)
2012	SP	21.08	-	Jun 24, 2012	↓	Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA)
2012	DT	53.88	-	Apr 14, 2012	↓	Lewisburg, PA (USA)
2012	HT	58.52	-	May 11, 2012	↓	Madison, WI (USA)
2011	weight-throw	19.07	-	Jan 28, 2011	↓	-
2011	SP	19.84	-	Feb 26, 2011	↓	Champaign, IL (USA) (i)
2011	DT	56.08	-	Apr 23, 2011	↓	Columbus, OH (USA)
2011	HT	61.50	-	Apr 15, 2011	↓	Auburn, AL (USA)
2010	weight-throw	18.26	-	Feb 28, 2010	↓	-
2010	SP	19.36	-	Jan 30, 2010	↓	University Park, PA (USA) (i)
2010	DT	52.65	-	May 15, 2010	↓	Bloomington, IN (USA)
2010	HT	57.79	-	Apr 8, 2010	↓	Tempe, AZ (USA)
2009	SP	18.53	-	Apr 24, 2009	↓	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2009	DT	49.07	-	Apr 11, 2009	↓	Lewisburg, PA (USA)
2009	HT	55.97	-	May 1, 2009	↓	Columbus, OH (USA)
2008	SP	16.86	-	Jan 26, 2008	↓	State College, PA (USA) (i)
2007	SP	16.49	-	Jun 30, 2007	↓	Carolina (PUR)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
SP	22.09	-	Sep 4	Allianz Memorial van Damme
SP	21.16	-	Aug 30	Grand Prix Brescia
SP	21.65	-	Aug 26	Weltklasse Zürich
SP	21.86	-	Aug 22	Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial
SP	21.36	-	Jul 23	USA Championships
SP	21.05	-	Jul 3	Prefontaine Classic
SP	21.76	-	Jun 14	USATF LA Grand Prix
SP	21.76	-	Jun 13	USATF LA Grand Prix
SP	21.87	-	Jun 4	Golden Gala Pietro Mennea
SP	22.58	-	May 31	Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme de Rabat
SP	20.18	-	Mar 1	USA Indoor Championships
SP	20.18	-	Feb 28	USA Indoor Championships
SP	20.83	-	Feb 25	Hvězdy v Nehvizdech
SP	21.92	-	Feb 22	ORLEN Copernicus Cup
SP	21.40	-	Feb 19	Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF
SP	21.21	-	Feb 1	Millrose Games
SP	21.21	-	Jan 30	Millrose Games

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
SP	22.46	-	Aug 28	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.46	-	Aug 27	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.04	-	Aug 20	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline
SP	21.82	-	Aug 16	Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.33	-	Aug 12	Gyulai István Memorial - Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest
SP	22.07	-	Aug 3	USA Championships
SP	22.48	-	Jul 5	Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline
SP	21.13	-	Jun 21	JÕHVI 2025 - Heino Lipp memorial, Heino Lipp Stadium, Jöhvi
SP	21.59	-	Jun 6	Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Diamond Discipline
SP	21.52	-	May 25	Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme de Rabat
SP	20.79	-	May 24	50. Halplus Werfertage
SP	20.79	-	May 23	50. Halplus Werfertage

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
SP	NM	-	Sep 13	Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - Diamond Discipline
SP	21.07	-	Sep 9	Galà dei Castelli, Stadio Comunale, Bellinzona
SP	20.90	-	Sep 5	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Promotional Events
SP	21.62	-	Aug 30	Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.14	-	Aug 25	Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.15	-	Aug 10	The XXXIII Olympic Games, Stade de France, Paris
SP	21.24	-	Aug 10	The XXXIII Olympic Games, Stade de France, Paris
SP	22.15	-	Aug 3	The XXXIII Olympic Games, Stade de France, Paris
SP	21.24	-	Aug 2	The XXXIII Olympic Games, Stade de France, Paris
SP	22.03	-	Jul 20	London Athletics Meet, Olympic Stadium, London - Diamond Discipline
SP	22.43	-	Jun 22	U.S. Olympic Team Trials
SP	22.43	-	Jun 21	U.S. Olympic Team Trials
SP	22.13	-	Jun 21	U.S. Olympic Team Trials
SP	23.13	-	May 25	Prefontaine Classic
SP	22.93	-	May 18	USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
SP	22.93	-	Sep 17	Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline
SP	21.72	-	Sep 9	Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića
SP	21.34	-	Sep 6	59. Palio Citta' della Quercia, Stadio Quercia, Rovereto
SP	22.40	-	Sep 3	36th Meeting Citta' Di Padova, Stadio Colbachini, Padova
SP	21.59	-	Aug 26	World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Hősök tere, Budapest
SP	22.12	-	Aug 26	World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Hősök tere, Budapest

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Joe Kovacs's Shot Put personal best?

Joe Kovacs's Shot Put personal best is 23.23, set on Sep 7, 2022 in Sechseläutenplatz, Zürich (SUI), #2 on the all-time list.

Which events does Joe Kovacs compete in?

Joe Kovacs competes in the Shot Put.

How did Joe Kovacs perform in 2026?

2026 season best: 22.58, set on May 31, 2026 in Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR). Last competition: Allianz Memorial van Damme on Sep 4, 2026, 22.09.

How many medals has Joe Kovacs won?

Joe Kovacs has won 3 Olympic Games medals and 5 World Championships medals.

Joe Kovacs

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2026

2025

2024

2023

Honours

Frequently asked questions