Joe Kovacs shot

Joe Kovacs, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and Penn State alumnus, is set to compete in the men's shot put final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday after advancing from the qualifier with a throw of 21.24 meters, finishing seventh. Despite his performance not meeting the qualification standard of 21.35 meters, Kovacs secured his spot among the top 12 throwers. Kovacs, who has a personal best of 23.23 meters outdoors, is aiming for gold after previously finishing second in the last two Olympics, with Ryan Crouser as a key rival. The final event is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. EDT, and Kovacs is optimistic despite facing strong competition from both Crouser and Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri. His journey reflects a decade of experience in high-level shot put competitions, and he remains a top contender for the gold medal. Kovacs is coached by his wife, Ashley, and previously won gold at the World Championships in 2015 and 2019.