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.
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.European Championships: Athlete loses gold for removing shirt. BBC Sport (14 August 2014). Retrieved on 16 August 2014.
Competition record Representing 2006World Junior ChampionshipsBeijing, China14th (h)3000 m s'chase8:58.742007European U23 ChampionshipsDebrecen, Hungary11th3000 m s'chase9:41.752009European Indoor ChampionshipsTurin, Italy3rd1500 m3:44.75European U23 ChampionshipsKaunas, Lithuania6th1500 m3:51.98World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany40th (h)1500 m3:46.422010European ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain5th1500 m3:43.712011European Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France15th (h)1500 m3:48.51World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea8th (sf)1500 m3:37.442012World Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey10th3000 m7:47.81Olympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom21st (sf)1500 m3:43.482013European Indoor ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden4th3000 m7:50.89World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia8th3000 m s'chase8:17.41Jeux de la FrancophonieNice, France2nd3000 m s'chase8:43.792014World Indoor ChampionshipsSopot, Poland –3000 mDQEuropean ChampionshipsZürich, Switzerland1st3000 m s'chase8:26.662015European Indoor ChampionshipsPrague, Czech Republic23rd (h)1500 m3:49.99World ChampionshipsBeijing, China20th (h)3000 m s'chase8:41.652016European ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands3rd3000 m s'chase8:30.79Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil5th3000 m s'chase8:16.752017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom13th3000 m s'chase8:34.532018European ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany4th3000 m s'chase8:36.772019European Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom9th3000 m8:02.85World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar37th (h)3000 m s'chase8:37.902022Mediterranean GamesOran, Algeria8thHalf marathon1:09:34European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany15th10,000 m28:17.39
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)
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