Josh Hoey

Josh Hoey (born November 1, 1999) is an American middle-distance runner who is the world record holder in the short track 800 meters, with a time of 1:42.50 set in 2026. He won a gold medal in the event at the 2025 World Indoor Championships. Hoey also holds the world best in the short track 600 meters and the American record in the short track 1000 meters, with times of 1:12.84 and 2:14.48 respectively.

Career 2018–2024 Hoey attended Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. As a senior, he set the U.S. high school national record in the indoor 800 meters, with a time of 1:47.67 (since broken by Cooper Lutkenhaus in 2025). He competed at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, running 1:48.07 in the semifinals of the 800 meters.

In 2018, originally intending to compete for the University of Oregon, Hoey turned pro after high school, signing with Adidas.

At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Hoey finished fourth in the 800 meter final, with a personal best time of 1:44.12. A few weeks later at the Moore-Guldensporen Meeting in Belgium, Hoey improved his 800 meter personal best to 1:43.80. In September 2024, he competed in the Fifth Avenue Mile, finishing second to Josh Kerr in 3:48.9. In December 2024 at Boston University, Hoey ran a personal best of 3:52.61 in the indoor mile.

2025: World 800 meter indoor champion On January 18, at the Quaker Invitational at the University of Pennsylvania, Hoey set a new American record in the short track 1000 meters, with a time of 2:14.48. This broke Shane Streich's previous record of 2:16.16 by almost two seconds. Hoey's time is the second fastest in indoor history, behind Ayanleh Souleiman's world record of 2:14.20.

On February 2, Hoey won the 1500 meters at the New Balance Grand Prix, in a new personal best of 3:33.66, beating Olympians Grant Fisher and Olli Hoare. On February 8, Hoey won the 800 meters over Bryce Hoppel at the Millrose Games, winning in a new American record of 1:43.90, whilst Hoppel finished second in 1:44.19.

On March 23, Hoey won a world title in the 800 meters at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China. Hoey was nearly caught at the finish line by Elliot Crestan of Belgium, but managed to remain 0.04 seconds ahead of Crestan to win in 1:44.77.

On June 15, at the Stockholm Diamond League, Hoey set a new outdoor personal best in the 800 meters, with a time of 1:42.43. This time placed Hoey as the third fastest American over 800 meters, behind Donavan Brazier (1:42.34) and Bryce Hoppel (1:41.67). On July 11, he improved his personal best to 1:42.01 at Herculis.

At the 2025 United States Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Hoey finished fourth to Bryce Hoppel, Cooper Lutkenhaus, and Donavan Brazier in the 800 meters, after opening in a 49.29 second first lap.

In October, it was announced that Hoey had parted ways with his coach Justin Rinaldi.

On December 6, at the 2025 BU Opener meeting, Hoey broke Donavan Brazier's short track 600 meter world best of 1:13.77, clocking 1:12.84. This time falls 0.03 seconds short of the outdoor 600 meter world best of 1:12.81, set by Johnny Gray.

2026: Short track 800 meter world record On January 24, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Hoey broke Wilson Kipketer's nearly 29 year old world record of 1:42.67 in the short track 800 meters, clocking 1:42.50.

Personal life Hoey comes from a running family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hoey family built a track on their family farm outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hoey often trains with his brothers Jonah and Jaxson. His father Fran is a financial advisor and former athlete that has invested in his sons' track careers.