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 place 2014 Zürich 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Amsterdam 3000 m steeplechase
European Indoor Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Torino 1500 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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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing   France
2006 World Junior Championships Beijing, China 14th (h) 3000 m s'chase 8:58.74
2007 European U23 Championships Debrecen, Hungary 11th 3000 m s'chase 9:41.75
2009 European Indoor Championships Turin, Italy 3rd 1500 m 3:44.75
European U23 Championships Kaunas, Lithuania 6th 1500 m 3:51.98
World Championships Berlin, Germany 40th (h) 1500 m 3:46.42
2010 European Championships Barcelona, Spain 5th 1500 m 3:43.71
2011 European Indoor Championships Paris, France 15th (h) 1500 m 3:48.51
World Championships Daegu, South Korea 8th (sf) 1500 m 3:37.44
2012 World Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 10th 3000 m 7:47.81
Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 21st (sf) 1500 m 3:43.48
2013 European Indoor Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 4th 3000 m 7:50.89
World Championships Moscow, Russia 8th 3000 m s'chase 8:17.41
Jeux de la Francophonie Nice, France 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:43.79
2014 World Indoor Championships Sopot, Poland 3000 m DQ
European Championships Zürich, Switzerland 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:26.66
2015 European Indoor Championships Prague, Czech Republic 23rd (h) 1500 m 3:49.99
World Championships Beijing, China 20th (h) 3000 m s'chase 8:41.65
2016 European Championships Amsterdam, Netherlands 3rd 3000 m s'chase 8:30.79
Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5th 3000 m s'chase 8:16.75
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 13th 3000 m s'chase 8:34.53
2018 European Championships Berlin, Germany 4th 3000 m s'chase 8:36.77
2019 European Indoor Championships Glasgow, United Kingdom 9th 3000 m 8:02.85
World Championships Doha, Qatar 37th (h) 3000 m s'chase 8:37.90
2022 Mediterranean Games Oran, Algeria 8th Half marathon 1:09:34
European Championships Munich, Germany 15th 10,000 m 28:17.39

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.