Kenny Bednarek

Kenny Bednarek
OLY
Bednarek at the 2022 World Athletics Championships
Personal information
NicknameKung Fu Kenny
Born (1998-10-14) October 14, 1998[1]
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.[1]
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1]
Sport
Country United States
SportTrack and field
EventSprints 200m/100m
College teamIndian Hills Warriors
Turned pro2019
Coached byDennis Mitchell[2]
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2020 Tokyo 200m finals silver medalist 19.68
World finals2022 Eugene 200m finals silver medalist 19.77
Personal bests
  • 100 m: 9.79 (2025)
  • 200 m: 19.57 (2024)
  • 400 m: 44.73 (2019)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo 200 m
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 200 m
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Eugene 200 m
World Relays
Gold medal – first place 2024 Nassau 4×100 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2025 Guangzhou 4×100 m relay
Diamond League
First place 2021 200 m
First place 2024 200 m

Kenneth Bednarek OLY (born October 14, 1998) is an American track and field sprinter from Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He specializes in the 100-meter and 200-meter distance, having won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 World Championships, and at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[3][4]

Early life

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bednarek and his fraternal twin brother, Ian, were adopted by Mary Bednarek and moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Both brothers took to running youth track starting in the second grade. Running for Rice Lake High School, Kenny won seven individual state titles and led his team to a 4×400 relay championship. His 20.43 was the number one high school 200-meter time in the nation in 2018.

He also played football at Rice Lake, scoring 17 touchdowns as a wide receiver, kick returner and on jet sweeps during his junior and senior years, recorded on videos posted on the recruiting website hudl.com.[5] He also starred as a gunner on special teams. During his senior year, his Rice Lake Warriors teams won state championships in both track and football. Bednarek holds Wisconsin all-class records for 200 and 400 meters and the Division 2 record for 100 meters.[6]

Collegiate career

Bednarek did not qualify academically for a major four-year university, so he enrolled at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. He said, "I had a goal to go to university after JUCO, but obviously God (had) a different plan."[7] At Indian Hills, Bednarek ran the fastest indoor 200 m in the US, the #2 time in the world for the indoor season, which tied him as the #25 individual on the all time indoor list at the time.[8]

On May 17, 2019, running as a freshman for Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa at the age of 20, he ran the fourth fastest 200 meters ever at the time, under any conditions, running 19.49 at altitude with an exceptionally strong 6.1 mps aiding wind in the semi-finals of the NJCAA National Championships in Hobbs, New Mexico. The following day, Bednarek proved his speed by running 19.82 into a -0.8 headwind and running a 44.73 400 meters on the same day, becoming the NJCAA national champion in both events. 19.82 displaced Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith's former world record for the #30 fastest legal race of all time. Six men have run faster into a negative wind, but -0.9 is the strongest hindering wind against any athlete to break 19.95.[9]

Only one other person, Botswanan Isaac Makwala, has ever run sub-20 and sub-45 in the same day. Makwala was 28 when he did that in Madrid on July 6, 2014, making Bednarek the youngest athlete and only American athlete to pull off the feat.[10][11]

For his achievement, Bednarek was named the "USATF Athlete of the Week" on May 22, 2019.[12]

Professional career

Bednarek at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

In July 2019, he left Indian Hills and signed a pro contract with Nike and began training in Florida with former world champion sprinter and Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin. “It wasn’t my decision," he said. "But you know Nike wanted to send me somewhere so I just kind of listened. So you know, they know what they’re doing. It’s all you know just going to trust the process.”[7]

He said that he came out of high school as a 400-meter specialist but transitioned successfully into the 200-meters. "So I kind of want to continue that, maybe in the years to come try to do the 100, but yeah I think the 200 is my main event right now,” he said in July 2019.[7]

At the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Bednarek qualified for the 200 meters final. In the final, he pulled up with a hamstring injury but jogged across the finish line. Later in the season, winner Noah Lyles won the 2019 IAAF Diamond League 200m title, entitling him to a wild card to the 2019 World Athletics Championships. USA was thus allowed an additional entry. By virtue of Bednarek being the fourth person to cross the finish line at the National Championships with a qualifying time, he was given the position into the World Championships. Weeks after his injury, Bednarek was only able to muster a non-qualifying 21.50 in his heat due to a nerve flare up.

On August 10, 2020, in the COVID-19 abbreviated season, Bednarek ran a world leading 19.80 (+1.0) at the Star Athletics Sprint Showcase in Montverde, Florida.[13] The time moved him up to a tie for the #25 mark of all time.

On August 4, 2021, Bednarek won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 200-meter men's final with a time of 19.68 seconds.[14] On Sept. 9, 2021, Bednarek clinched the Diamond League 200 meter title at the Weltklasse in Zürich, winning with a time of 19.70s.[15] During 2021, Bednarek ran the most sub-20 performances over 200 meters, both for wind-legal conditions and all conditions, of any athlete in a single season, with 12 total sub-20 performances, of which 10 were wind-legal. He ended the season ranked No. 1 in the 200 meters by World Athletics.[16]

On July 21, 2022 in Eugene, Ore., Bednarek took silver in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships with a time of 19.77. Noah Lyles, whom he had defeated in Tokyo, set an American record of 19.31 in the race.[4]

In 2024, Bednarek qualified for the Olympic team by placing second at the Olympic trials in the 100m and 200m. Noah Lyles won both races. In the 200m, both Lyles and Bednarek went under Michael Johnson's 1996 meet record of 19.66. Lyles edged Bednarek, running 19.53 to Bednarek's 19.59, a personal record.[17] While Bednarek had made the last 3 World Championship or Olympic teams in the 200m, this was the first time he had made a 100m global team. Bednarek also ran a personal best of 9.87 in the 100m final.[16] At the Paris Olympics, Bednarek qualified for the 100m final, where he placed 7th in a time of 9.88.[18] Bednarek also qualified for the 200m final, by winning his semi-final in 20.00s. In the final he won the silver medal in a time of 19.62, finishing behind Letsile Tebogo.[19]

In September 2024, it was announced that he had signed up for the inaugural season of the Michael Johnson founded Grand Slam Track.[20][21] At the Kingston Slam held in April 2025, Bednarek won in his category, having won both the 100 m and 200 m.[22] He also won his event category in the Miami Slam and Philadelphia Slam, later being crowned Racer of the Year for the 2025 Grand Slam Track season.[23][24][25]

On August 1, 2025, at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Bednarek won a national title over the 100 meters, running 9.79. This time ties Bednarek with Noah Lyles and Maurice Greene as the sixth fastest American in history.[26]

Personal life

Bednarek's nickname is "Kung Fu Kenny" because he wears a Rambo-like tie around his head in races.[27]

He has a pet Husky named Rambo.[27]

Bednarek is Catholic.[28] He is dating Indian golfer Sharmila Nicollet.[29]

Statistics

Information from World Athletics profile.[16]

Personal bests

Event Time Wind (m/s) Venue Date Notes
100 m 9.79 (+1.8 m/s) Eugene, U.S. August 1, 2025
200 m 19.57 (+0.4 m/s) Zurich, Switzerland September 5, 2024
19.49 A w (+6.1 m/s) Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S. May 17, 2019 Altitude-assisted, wind-assisted
400 m 44.73 A — Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S. May 18, 2019 Altitude-assisted

Major competitions

Representing the  United States
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Wind (m/s) Notes
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 7th (H4) 200 m 21.50 +0.7
2021 Müller Grand Prix Gateshead Gateshead, England 1st 200 m 20.33 –3.0
Doha Diamond League Doha, Qatar 1st 200 m 19.88 +0.4
U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 4th 100 m 9.89 +0.8 PB
2nd 200 m 19.78 +0.3
Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 2nd 200 m 19.68 –0.5 PB
Prefontaine Classic Eugene, Oregon 2nd 200 m 19.80 +1.5
Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League Final Zürich, Switzerland 1st 200 m 19.70 +0.5
2022 USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 4th 200 m 19.87 –0.3
World Championships 2nd 200 m 19.77 +0.4 SB
2023 USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 2nd 200 m 19.82 –0.1 SB
World Championships Budapest, Hungary 5th 200 m 20.07 –0.2
2024 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 1st 4 × 100 m relay
U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 2nd 100 m 9.87 +0.4 PB
2nd 200 m 19.59 +0.5 PB
Olympic Games Paris, France 2nd 200 m 19.62 +0.4
– 4 × 100 m relay DQ
2025 World Relays Guangzhou, China 2nd 4 × 100 m relay 37.66 SB
USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 1st 100m 9.79 +1.8 PB
2nd 200m 19.67 +0.2 SB


Circuit wins

Grand Slam Track results[30]
Slam Race group Event Pl. Time Prize money
2025 Kingston Slam Short sprints 100 m 1st 10.07 US$100,000
200 m 1st 20.07
2025 Miami Slam Short sprints 100 m 1st 9.79 US$100,000
200 m 1st 19.84
2025 Philadelphia Slam Short sprints 200 m 1st 19.95 US$100,000
100 m 1st 9.86

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kenny Bednarek". teamusa.org. USOC. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Kenny Bednarek Recaps Weird 200m Prelim, Is Being Coached By Dennis Mitchell". FloTrack. July 27, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Clevel, Justus. "Athletics: Final Results". www.olympics.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  4. ^ a b Futterman, Matthew (2022-07-22). "Noah Lyles's Sweet Redemption: A 200 Meter Gold, and an American Sweep". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  5. ^ "The road runner". www.hudl.com. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  6. ^ [1] Wisconsin high school track records
  7. ^ a b c Jackson, Scott (27 July 2019). "Bednarek finishes eighth in U.S. 200 dash". Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  8. ^ "Senior 2019 - 200 metres - Toplists". World Athletics. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  9. ^ "200 Metres – men – senior – outdoor". World Athletics. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  10. ^ Hollobaugh, Jeff (June 2019). "Kenny Bednarek Planning On 200/400 Double At USATF". Track and Field News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  11. ^ Mayforth, Tyler (May 18, 2019). "Kenny Bednarek Runs Into The Record Book". USTFCCCA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "Bednarek's historic double wins him USATF Athlete of the Week". May 22, 2019. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  13. ^ "Kenny Bednarek Blazes to 200m World Lead with 19.80 in Monteverde | Watch Athletics".
  14. ^ "Kenny Bednarek runs personal best, wins silver in men's 200-meter final". 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Bednarek closes out season with Diamond League championship in 200-meter dash". 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Kenneth BEDNAREK | Profile | World Athletics". World Athletics.
  17. ^ "2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field". usatf.org.
  18. ^ "Men's 100m Results" (PDF). olympics.com. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  19. ^ Whittington, Jess (8 August 2024). "Tebogo becomes Botswana's first Olympic champion with 200m win in Paris". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek sign with Grand Slam Track". Athletics Weekly. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Olympic Medalists Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek Sign With Grand Slam Track". FloTrack. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  22. ^ Francis, Noel (6 April 2025). "First four Grand Slam Track champions crowned in Kingston". World Athletics. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  23. ^ LetsRun.com (2025-05-04). "Grand Slam Track Miami Day 3: Grant Fisher Wins, Mary Moraa Is Alive, Kenny Bednarek Stays Dominant". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  24. ^ LetsRun.com (2025-06-01). "7 Thoughts on Grand Slam Track Philadelphia: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden & Kenny Bednarek Rule the Sprints, Hello Nico Young, & More". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  25. ^ "Grand Slam Track™ Announces Conclusion of Groundbreaking 2025 Season". www.grandslamtrack.com. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  26. ^ null (2025-08-02). "Kenny Bednarek Secures First Career U.S. Championship, U.S. #6 All-Time". FloTrack. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  27. ^ a b "SPRINTER KENNY BEDNAREK SAYS 'WATCH OUT' FOR HIM AT OLYMPIC TRIALS". Team USA. 8 June 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  28. ^ Herald, Catholic (2021-07-23). "Two Olympians from diocese head to Tokyo". Superior Catholic Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  29. ^ "Who is Kenny Bednarek's girlfriend Sharmila Nicollet? Everything to know about the Indian golfer who is French origin". Sportskeeda. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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