Joe Kovacs won the shot put Diamond Trophy but will miss the Tokyo World Athletics Championships

Joe Kovacs missed out on a spot on the Team USA for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, but today he won the 2025 Diamond Trophy in the shot put after a victory in Zurich. The American was happy with his win and spoke calmly about his failure at the US national qualifiers.

“I can only control what I can control. It was nice to come out here with that throw. I saw a great throw in the warm-up. It’s great to win here at this high level. I would like to keep my medal streak going, but I’m also happy to go home to my wife and kids”, said Joe Kovacs. “We have such a strong tradition in the US in shot put, sometimes it sucks, but most of the time it pushes you forward. At this point in my career, it’s humbling to have kids watching me on YouTube. To compete at the World Championships, Ryan Crouser would have to give up his spot due to injury. I would be ready. But I also want to come home with at least a bronze medal. I mean Los Angeles 2028. But it has to be consistent with my family”, added he.

At the Diamond League Final Weltklasse Zurich, Joe Kovacs won the gold by 22.46m. The silver went to his compatriot Payton Otterdahl with 22.07m and the bronze was for Rajindra Campbell (Jamaica) with 21.87m.

Joe Kovacs holds a personal best of 23.23m in outdoor competitions and 22.05m in indoor events. He secured gold medals at the World Championships in 2015 and 2019. Additionally, he earned silver medals at the World Championships in 2017, as well as at the Summer Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024. His personal best of 23.23m positions him as the second-best athlete in history for the shot put event.