Former Penn State track and field star Joe Kovacs came up big in his final throw on Saturday to claim his third consecutive Olympic silver medal in the shot put.
The Pennsylvania native was in fourth place through five throws, but on his sixth and final attempt Kovacs recorded a massive 22.15-meter throw to move into second place. He finished behind U.S. teammate Ryan Crouser, who won his third straight Olympic gold.
Kovacs is just the second Penn State track and field alum to win three Olympic medals. He joins Barney Ewell, who won three running medals – a gold and two silvers — at the 1948 Olympics.
A two-time PIAA champion at Bethlehem Catholic High School, Kovacs won two Big Ten shot put titles and was a four-time All-American while at Penn State from 2008-12.
He is the second Penn State alumnus to win an individual medal at the Paris Games. Former Nittany Lion gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik won bronze in the pommel horse earlier in the day on Saturday after helping the U.S. to a team bronze on Monday.
Penn State grad Kayla Canett also won bronze with the U.S. women rugby sevens team, and Nittany Lion fencing assistant coach Renate Knapik-Miazga claimed a bronze medal with the Poland women’s épée team.
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