"FIND A WAY" – Joe Kovacs

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Joe Kovacs was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. And yes, he’s aware—without clarification, that introduction might sound like it belongs to someone of even greater power. In his family, he’s known as “Little Joey,” a name passed down from his father, Joseph.

Tragically, Joe lost his father to cancer at the age of seven, and just one day later, his maternal grandmother also passed away. “It was the worst time in my life, but I had my mom, and she always prioritized me in her thoughts and actions,” Joe recalls. Over time, he came to appreciate just how strong his mother was: “She went through all of that without her own mom to support her, yet she gave me everything I needed. She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

Joe grew up attending Holy Family Parish and School, surrounded by a community that shaped his early years. He later attended Bethlehem Catholic High School, where he first found his passion for sports through football. As a freshman, he remembers being the weakest in the weight room—he couldn’t even bench the bar with weights. Determined to improve, he committed to offseason training. Initially, he joined the track and field team to work on his speed for football, but a chance encounter with the throws squad changed everything.

One afternoon, Joe’s mom picked him up from school and saw him throwing the shot put—with the wrong technique. A former athlete herself, she offered some coaching. The team’s head coach took notice and soon invited her to become the school’s throws coach. From that moment on, Joe’s mother was both his biggest supporter and his coach.

Joe started as a glide shot putter and later attended a summer clinic where he met Reese Hoffa, a future World Champion and Olympic medalist. Inspired by Reese’s advice, Joe and his mother sought out Glenn Thompson, a top throws coach in Harrisburg. Every Sunday, they made the long drive for training. “Glenn not only helped me see the next level, but he also guided me there,” Joe says. By the end of high school, he was an All-State football player and the PIAA state champion in both shot put and discus.

 

From Penn State to the World Stage

At Penn State University, Joe continued to develop under coach T.J. Crater, with his teammate Blake Eaton pushing him every step of the way. Though he had a strong collegiate career, Joe wasn’t satisfied. “I had some good throws, but I never fully put it all together,” he admits.

He graduated with a degree in Energy Business and Finance, finishing as a four-time All-American and school record-holder. His last meet in a Penn State jersey was the 2012 Olympic Trials, where he placed fourth—just one spot shy of making the team. Instead of feeling discouraged, he was energized. “I wasn’t even sure I’d make the final, so fourth place gave me hope that I could make the next one.”

A week later, Joe made his professional debut at the Diamond League in Paris. With job interviews lined up, he faced a choice: start a career in finance or commit fully to shot put. He chose the latter, canceling his interviews and searching for a coach who could take him to the next level. That search led him to Coach Art Venegas, a legendary throws coach. After a phone call and a visit to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, Joe packed his bags and moved across the country on January 1, 2013.

Under Venegas, Joe achieved major success, winning his first World Championship and Olympic medal. He remained in California through the 2017 season, training alongside some of the best in the world.

 

A Move for Love & The Road to Gold

After the 2017 season, Joe decided to pursue life beyond the ring and moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be with his girlfriend Ashley Muffet—who, within a year, became his fiancée and then his wife, forming the Kovacs family.

By 2019, Ashley took over Joe’s coaching, and together, they built toward one of the most historic shot put competitions ever at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

 

The Most Famous Competition – Doha 2019

In that competition, Joe delivered a clutch 22.91m (75'2") final throw—just one centimeter further than second place—to win gold.

“I’ve screamed on throws before, but never like that. That was a scream of pure joy. We did it,” Joe recalls. The first person he ran to was Ashley. “I shouted ‘I love you’ because this was OUR moment. She’s been my North Star in this journey.”

Now, with Ashley by his side, both inside and outside the shot put ring, and with their twin children growing up alongside their journey, the Kovacs family is more motivated than ever to chase the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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Career Highlights

✅ 2015 World Championship Gold
✅ 2015 Diamond League Trophy
✅ 2016 Olympic Silver Medal
✅ 2017 World Championship Silver
✅ 2019 World Championship Gold (in one of the greatest shot put competitions of all time)
✅ 2020 Olympic Silver Medal
✅ 2022 World Championship Silver
✅ 2023 World Championship Bronze
✅ 2024 Olympic Silver Medal
✅ Three Diamond League Trophies
✅ Personal Best: 23.23m (76 feet 2.5 inches) – 2nd farthest throw in world history

 

 

Joe has now medaled in eight consecutive global championships, a streak he intends to extend through the next three Olympic cycles.