Yoann Kowal

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.

Yoann Kowal

Kowal at the 2022 European Championships in Munich
Personal information
Born	28 May 1987 (1987-05-28) (age 37) Nogent-le-Rotrou, France
Height	172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	58 kg (128 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Club	Entente Perigueux Sarlat Trelissac Athletisme
Coached by	Patrick Petitbreuil
Medal record Representing France European Championships 2014 Zürich 3000 m steeplechase 2016 Amsterdam 3000 m steeplechase European Indoor Championships 2009 Torino 1500 m

Personal life

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.

Career

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.

Competition record

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

Outdoor

• 800 metres – 1:47.95 (Oordegem 2010)
• 1500 metres – 3:33.75 (Paris 2011)
• 3000 metres – 7:45.11 (Paris 2016)
• 5000 metres – 13:34.29 (Stockholm 2016)
• 10,000 metres – 28:05.68 (Pacé 2022)
• 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:12.53 (Rabat 2013)
• 10K – 28:42 (Moirans 2018)
• Half marathon – 1:02:17 (Lille 2022)
• Marathon – 2:14:56 (Paris 2023)

Indoor

• 800 metres – 1:49.58 (Bordeaux 2010)
• 1500 metres – 3:38.07 (Stuttgart 2011)
• 2000 metres – 5:04.18 (Bordeaux 2013)
• 3000 metres – 7:44.26 (Liévin 2012)