Joe Kovacs wins silver medal at Paris Olympics in clutch final shot put

PARIS – Down to his last throw, Joe Kovacs made it count.

Kovacs won the sliver medal – his third in three Olympics – in the shot put final Saturday at the Paris Olympics.

Kovacs’ second-place throw of 22.15 meters came on the last of his six throws in a rain-plagued competition. He had fouled on three of his prior five attempts.

Once again, he finished behind fellow American Ryan Crouser, who captured his third gold medal in as many Games with a put of 22.90 meters.

Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica won the bronze medal.

Kovacs, the Lehigh Valley native and Penn State alum, now has three Olympic silver medals – one each from the 2024, 2020 and 2016 Olympic Games.

One of the most decorated American shot putters in history, he grew up in the Nazareth area and won a PIAA state title while a student at Bethlehem Catholic High School.

Kovacs, 35, advanced to the finals easily during Friday’s qualification throws. He has been among the best in the world in shot put for several years.

He won world titles in 2019 and 2015 and now lives in Dublin, Ohio.