While former Nittany Lion wrestler David Taylor won Olympic gold, two other Penn State alumni claimed medals Wednesday night and Thursday morning in Tokyo.
Former Penn State track and field standout Joe Kovacs took silver in the shot put and former Nittany Lion women’s soccer star Alyssa Naeher won bronze with the U.S. women’s national team.
Kovacs became a two-time Olympic silver medalist with a throw of 22.60 meters, falling just behind fellow American Ryan Crouser, who set an Olympic record with his 22.93-meter toss. Crouser previously topped Kovacs for a gold medal at 2016’s Olympics in Rio.
Kovacs competed for Penn State from 2008 to 2012 while majoring in energy business and finance. The Nazareth native later went on to capture two gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 IAAF World Championships.
Naeher earned the first Olympic medal of her career alongside the U.S. women’s national team on Thursday.
The U.S. defeated Australia 4-3 to claim bronze in Tokyo. Naeher, though, was held out of the match due to a hyperextended knee and bone contusion suffered in Monday’s semifinal match against Canada.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be able to be on the field Thursday with my teammates competing for a medal, but I know this group will bounce back from a tough loss,” the goalkeeper said in a statement on Tuesday. “I can’t wait to watch them fight for a bronze medal and I will be here to support the team in any way I can to help us get it done.”
Still, Naeher’s contributions were critical to the U.S.’s success. She played hero against the Netherlands last week to help her team stay in contention for a medal. In that match, Naeher blocked three penalty kicks to secure a 3-2 victory.
Naeher, who started 74 matches for Penn State from 2006 to 2009 now adds an Olympic bronze medal to her ever-growing trophy shelf. She previously helped the U.S. win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup alongside fellow Nittany Lion Ali Krieger.
Penn State women’s soccer coach Erica Dambach also won a medal Thursday. She served as an assistant coach with the USWNT this summer.
This was the USWNT’s seventh Olympic appearance and its sixth overall Olympic medal. The team has won four golds, two silvers, and now, a bronze.
Two more Penn State alumni, Micha Hancock and Haleigh Washington, remain in contention for a medal with the U.S. women’s volleyball team.
