TOKYO - Penn State alumni ('12) and two-time IAAF World Champion Joe Kovacs added to his incredible international resume on Wednesday, claiming the silver medal for Team USA with his second place finish in the shot put at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The achievement marks the second career Olympic medal for Kovacs, as he earned silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"I am really happy," Kovacs said. "Of course, you always want to come back with all the gold, but I had one of my best throws of all time. It feels like a privilege and an honor to come back with a medal – we've got to keep this tradition going because the American shot putters are the best in the world."
Kovacs entered the final round of competition ranked 11th after preliminary throws a day earlier. The 32-year old jumped up the leaderboards on Wednesday, recording a mark of mark of 22.65 meters (74-3.75). Teammate Ryan Crouser won gold in the event, setting a new Olympic record with his throw of 23.30 meters.
Penn State athletes have now collected 36 Olympic medals among 119 all-time competitors. This marks Penn State track & field's ninth Olympic medal and sixth Olympic silver medal in program history. Kovacs is now the second Penn State track & field alumni to win multiple Olympic medals, joining Barney Ewell who won three medals in 1948.