József Kovács (runner)

József Kovács [ jo ː ʒɛf kova ː ʧ ] (* March 3, 1926; † 29 March 1987) was a Hungarian long-distance runner.

József Kovács was eliminated in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki in advance about 5000 meters. The European Athletics Championships 1954 in Bern Kovács won after a thrilling finale in 29:25,8 minutes just before the British Frank Sando silver medal in the 10,000 m. The winner was, however, almost half a minute ahead of the Czech Emil Zatopek. Four days later, Kovács gave up in the final over 5000 meters. It won in world record time of An incoming for the Soviet Union Ukrainian Volodymyr Kuz.

At the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 Kuz won the final over 10,000 meters sovereign. Kovács again won in a tight finish silver, with 28:52,4 minutes he had a good second ahead of Australian Allan Lawrence.

1960 at the Olympic Games in Rome he came Kovács over 10,000 meters in 29:42,2 minutes to 15th place.

József Kovács was 1.63 m tall and weighed 50 kg.