Yoann Kowal (born 28 May 1987) is a French middle and long-distance runner. He formerly specialized in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase before switching to longer races such as the 10,000 metres.[4]

Yoann Kowal
Kowal at the 2022 European Championships in Munich
Personal information
Born28 May 1987 (1987-05-28) (age 37)
Nogent-le-Rotrou, France[1]
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight58 kg (128 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
ClubEntente Perigueux Sarlat Trelissac Athletisme[3]
Coached byPatrick Petitbreuil[3]
Medal record
Representing  France
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2014 Zürich3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal – third place2016 Amsterdam3000 m steeplechase
European Indoor Championships
Bronze medal – third place2009 Torino1500 m

Personal life

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Kowal is married to Marianne and has a daughter Elea. His father Daniel held the national title in the 3000 m steeplechase, and his mother Nadine was a French duathlon champion. Kowal took up athletics aged four and started competing internationally in 2009. He frequently trains in Kenya. As of 2016 he served in the French military, with the Joinville Battalion at Fontainebleau.[3]

Career

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Kowal won his first senior title in unusual circumstances at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zürich. After initially finishing second in the 3000 metres steeplechase, Kowal was upgraded to the gold medal position when race winner and French teammate Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad was disqualified for removing his shirt in the home straight.[5]

Competition record

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YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  France
2006World Junior ChampionshipsBeijing, China14th (h)3000 m s'chase8:58.74
2007European U23 ChampionshipsDebrecen, Hungary11th3000 m s'chase9:41.75
2009European Indoor ChampionshipsTurin, Italy3rd1500 m3:44.75
European U23 ChampionshipsKaunas, Lithuania6th1500 m3:51.98
World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany40th (h)1500 m3:46.42
2010European ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain5th1500 m3:43.71
2011European Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France15th (h)1500 m3:48.51
World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea8th (sf)1500 m3:37.44
2012World Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey10th3000 m7:47.81
Olympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom21st (sf)1500 m3:43.48
2013European Indoor ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden4th3000 m7:50.89
World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia8th3000 m s'chase8:17.41
Jeux de la FrancophonieNice, France2nd3000 m s'chase8:43.79
2014World Indoor ChampionshipsSopot, Poland3000 mDQ
European ChampionshipsZürich, Switzerland1st3000 m s'chase8:26.66
2015European Indoor ChampionshipsPrague, Czech Republic23rd (h)1500 m3:49.99
World ChampionshipsBeijing, China20th (h)3000 m s'chase8:41.65
2016European ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands3rd3000 m s'chase8:30.79
Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil5th3000 m s'chase8:16.75
2017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom13th3000 m s'chase8:34.53
2018European ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany4th3000 m s'chase8:36.77
2019European Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom9th3000 m8:02.85
World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar37th (h)3000 m s'chase8:37.90
2022Mediterranean GamesOran, Algeria8thHalf marathon1:09:34
European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany15th10,000 m28:17.39

Personal bests

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Outdoor

Indoor

References

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  1. ^ Yoann Kowal. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ Yoann Kowal. rio2016.com
  3. ^ a b c Yoann Kowal. nbcolympics.com
  4. ^ Yoann Kowal at World Athletics
  5. ^ European Championships: Athlete loses gold for removing shirt. BBC Sport (14 August 2014). Retrieved on 2014-08-16.