Latest news with #KennyBednarek
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Kenny Bednarek knows what he wants, if he can just relax: ‘Make money, get gold medals and just run fast'
Kenny Bednarek knows you are a product of your environment. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was adopted at the age of four. 'What made me love track was, as a kid, I didn't have control over my life. I was kind of terrified,' he says. 'Track was something I had control of — the only control I had in my life. Advertisement 'All of the hard work I put in, I would get the outcome. It was where I felt most free, where I had no care in the world. 'As soon as the gun went off, I was just running, having fun.' The 26-year-old is certainly running and having fun now. He has Olympic and World Athletics Championships 200-metre silver medals and this year, won six races at three Grand Slam Track (GST) meets in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia. Bednarek clocked a wind-assisted 9.79 seconds in the 100m in Miami before running a wind-legal 200m in 19.84s. At Franklin Field in Philadelphia, he closed out the meet with a 100m personal best (PB) at 9.86s, which was also a franchise record. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion Jordan Anthony is the only other American athlete with sub-10s and sub-20s times over 100m and 200m this year. 'My favourite meet was Miami and it was more because I had to prove to people that the first race (Kingston) wasn't a fluke. But I think the Philly 100m was my favourite. I had a poor reaction time — 0.2s — and I still ended up getting to the top guy at 30 to 40 metres. I didn't panic, and I came out with 9.86s.' There are few better habits than winning. 'It's getting addicting,' Bednarek says. 'I'm trying to go on a win streak that will give me gold medals. If I get my three golds, then fast times are going to come. That's the sole focus this year — PBs will come when they come — just medals. I've only got three silver ones, and I'm trying to get some golds.' He wants to win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Tokyo this September. Those medals would be the priceless additions to a 2025 haul which has included three six-figure paydays from GST. Since turning professional in 2019, he has been part of Star Athletics, the Miami-based training group under coach Dennis Mitchell. 'It's a tense group,' he says. 'Every day is like a race. That's the main reason I'm at this level.' Advertisement 'I was getting my butt whooped every single time,' he says of the early days, when American sprinter Justin Gatlin, at the end of his career, was part of the group. Kyree King and Sha'Carri Richardson, now top-level American sprinters, joined in 2019, and the group features Olympic relay medallists Aaron Brown (Canada) and Tee Tee Terry (United States). 'Coming down from running 400m and 200m (in college), I didn't have that aggressiveness to get out of the blocks and the mechanics weren't really there. I had more of that wide-open-stride 400m mechanics.' So he worked on his block starts and acceleration phase. 'With the addition of (American sprinter) Christian Coleman, that's been a big game changer this year for me. The dude is the 60m world-record holder — you already know every single time he steps on that line, he's gonna get out (fast).' It is a group where 'iron sharpens iron'. He and Coleman 'use' each other to work on their respective weak spots — the 100m start for Bednarek and the end for Coleman — but they are ultimately team-mates. 'We go to work, have fun, we're hurting together, we're all talking s**t together,' he says. 'It's fun.' You might know Bednarek as the man with the headband, nicknamed 'Kung Fu Kenny'. 'I wanted to have something unique because we're at a point where you got all the Adidas people signed, Nike, Puma — everybody's wearing the same thing.' He has a designer who makes a bespoke headband for him for each race. 'It's just showing respect to the people out there that we're running in front of.' At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last year, he wore one with 'curve' and 'conqueror' written on either side. A post shared by Kung Fu Kenny (@kenny_bednarek) Bednarek won the 200m in 19.89s that day, when there was a 1-2-3 sweep not just for the U.S., but for Star Athletics, too. Courtney Lindsey was second, and King third. 'I'm not a person that really wants to be like, 'Look at me, I'm him', and stuff like that. I just want to go in and handle business.' Advertisement At no point does he namecheck Noah Lyles here, but the comparison with the U.S. No 1 comes easily. Lyles, an average build for a sprinter at 5ft 11in (180cm), is loud and expressive. He always jumps up high before settling into the blocks. Bednarek, despite being 6ft 2in and physically imposing, is quieter. 'When I get on the line, I always have a bow,' he says. 'I came up with the name Kung Fu Kenny. It ties with my name, and I like kung fu, martial arts, and anime. Kung fu also has a set of values that pertain to me: openness, discipline, respect and dedication.' Bednarek is one of the very few athletes who have beaten Lyles in his specialist event, the 200m, but three global finals in the past four years have seen Bednarek finish second in the 200m. In 2021, he was running in the lane outside Andre De Grasse when the Canadian earned his country's first track gold since 1996 and first 200m gold for nearly a century. Bednarek ran a personal best (19.68) for silver, but De Grasse set a national record (19.62). One year later, Lyles beat him at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, running the fourth-fastest 200m ever (19.31). It was a scintillating defence of his world title, and Lyles became only the third man to retain that crown. Bednarek, in 19.77, was beaten by nearly half a second, finishing closer to seventh than to Lyles. Last summer, Bednarek ran 19.62 in the Olympic final in Paris. He had matched De Grasse's performance from Tokyo and beaten Lyles on the track — the only problem was that Letsile Tebogo ran an African record of 19.46 to take Botswana's first Olympic gold medal. Bednarek reflects on what he describes as a missed opportunity. 'The biggest thing, the difference between getting first place and second place? It's always me tensing up,' he says. Advertisement 'I'm always going to come out of the bend first. That's kind of a given now from the past four years.' He was two-hundredths ahead of Tebogo at the 100m mark in last summer's final. 'I got off the turn, Tebogo was right there next to me, kind of using me as a rabbit. That shocked me, so then I tried to do a little bit too much — I would try to muscle it out — and then I started decelerating. 'That's when he got the edge over me and then he ran his 19.4s. If I ended up sticking to my race plan, I should have won.' It is the age-old sprinting principle that the winner is not the one who can go the fastest but who slows down the least and can hold their form best. 'My coach was trying to get it through my head like, 'Hey, you need to relax'. (I'd say) 'Yeah, yeah, I get it', but then, once the gun went off, I was always like, 'OK, screw it. I'm gonna just try to go'.' None of this is said with even a hint of bitterness. 'He (Tebogo) was also fighting for his mom. She passed away last year. I was happy for him that he got the gold medal. Now he's a big thing in Botswana.' Bednarek speaks with a softness that belies his size and power. His tete-a-tete with Tebogo continued after the Olympics when the pair raced at the Diamond League meets in Zurich and Brussels. Tebogo ran him down in Zurich when Bednarek tied up again. The American was one-tenth clear at halfway, down to two-hundredths at 150m, and Tebogo beat him on the line. The outcome was positive — he lowered his PB to 19.57 — but he wanted even more. Things clicked at the Diamond League finals in Brussels, where he held Tebogo off to win by more than one-tenth of a second — daylight in sprinting terms. 'The only thing I was thinking about coming off the bend is, 'Relax, relax, relax'. 'That's what I've been working on this whole past off-season. There's no reason to try to press when I can just use my (long) levers to my advantage. I fixed the end of my race in the 200m. I improved my start, too, so if I put those things together, nobody's going to beat me.' Bednarek's route to the top was unconventional. He wanted to go to the University of Oregon but his grades were not good enough. 'I was a kid in high school. I would do the bare minimum because I didn't really feel like it was a focal point or it was something important to me,' he says. It meant that, despite clocking 20.43s for 200m and repeatedly going sub-47 seconds over 400m as a high school senior, he had to go to Indian Hills junior college for a year. Advertisement There, he worked harder and ran even faster — 44.73s for 400m and sub-20s twice in the 200m, including a heavily wind-assisted 19.49s. 'That's when the agents started hitting me up. I was like, 'I guess I'm going pro now'.' After winning 16 collegiate races in 2019, he first raced as a pro that June. Bednarek describes his 200m at the Rabat Diamond League and a 400m in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, as ''welcome to the pros, rookie' moments'. He was in good shape from his college season but the elites had started later because that year's World Championships in Doha, Qatar, were not until late September. 'I'm looking at the times and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm about to roll everybody up. They're running slow',' he says. 'I got into the race, started running… and started dying. That's when you see zoom, zoom, zoom (as others run past you).' He came fourth in Morocco and sixth in Ostrava. Despite a hamstring issue, and early signs that his competitive edge can spill into over-exertion, he made his first senior U.S. team for the World Championships. 'I actually didn't want to go. (After nationals) I was like, 'OK, I can finally rest, go home, recover the hamstring'. Then they called me and told me I made the team, so I was, like, 'Damn, I've got to keep going'. 'I went to Doha in the mindset of, 'I'm just here for experience'. I didn't even make it past the first round.' He came seventh out of eight in his 200m heat in 21.5s, his slowest time in that distance all year. He is one of the forgotten men from the 100m final in Paris last August, which was his first individual appearance over that distance at a global championships after running a 9.87s PB at U.S. trials to make the team. Lyles edged out Jamaica's Kishane Thompson by five-thousandths to take gold in the deepest men's 100m Olympic final. Bednarek was the fastest seventh-place ever. Advertisement 'Initially, I was quite upset,' he says, 'but after a few days of thinking about it, there were good things. I didn't have the perfect race or execute the way that I wanted to, but I still ran 9.88 — that says a lot about me. 'If I do that under those circumstances, what can I do when I actually stick to my race plan? I kind of wanted it too badly. I tried to do something that I usually don't do and I tensed up. I had a good start and felt like I didn't.' Sprinting might look flat-out from the start but athletes need to build through the phases. 'When I'm more relaxed, then my top-end speed can kick in and I reel people in, but I didn't do that at all in the final. 'I locked up my whole body. My acceleration phase wasn't where it needed to be going to 50m and 60m. I was green, I was the newbie going into the finals, and it was a learning experience.' He learned, too, from the 4x100m relay, where the U.S. men continued their record of disqualifying, further stretching their Olympic medal drought in the event to at least 24 years (since silver at Athens 2004). 'I don't know what happened. We all felt good about it (before the race). I just made a slight mistake.' Bednarek, on the second leg, took off too early as Coleman led off around the bend. They were disqualified for passing the baton outside the changeover zone. 'The thing that will fix all our problems is just consistency in training,' he says. 'If we say, 'Hey, this is the team, we need to start practising a couple months before', then I think everything will be a lot better.' Bednarek's biggest limitation in recent years has been injuries. He reels off a list including pulled hamstrings and a broken toe. Last year, his season featured 24 races across six months. 'A healthy Kenny is a dangerous Kenny, because with me not dealing with all this little BS, I can put everything together and then I'll be dominant,' he says. Advertisement In 2021, he clocked 10 wind-legal, sub-20s 200m performances, the most by any athlete in a single season. 'That just comes with the recovery factor. I'm always going to do a workout, and excel at it, but to survive at this level, you have to take care of your body.' It is why he eats gluten-free and organic now, and has installed a sauna, cold plunge, red-light therapy and a PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy) machine at home. 'It's a lot of money, but at the end of the day, our body is an investment,' he says. 'Track and field is not forever, so you might as well put the money down, recover and get ready for the next day and try to survive. 'Make money, get gold medals and just run fast.' He can cross 'make money' and 'run fast' off the list this year. Now, for those 'three golds', he just needs to relax.
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
A new league gave track stars a financial cushion, and more uncertainty
Before Kenny Bednarek joined Grand Slam Track, he had become one of the most accomplished sprinters of his era. He won silver medals in the 200 meters at the past two Olympics. He reached the 100-meter final in Paris. Just seven men ever have run halfway around a track faster. For all his achievements, it took the league started this year by Olympic legend Michael Johnson for Bednarek to reach a new level of financial stability. Bednarek dominated the series and earned $400,000 in prize money, already roughly double what he would make in a typical year. Even before this year's national and world championships, Bednarek set aside money for investments he could not have made in past years.
NBC Sports
13-06-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Grand Slam Track postpones Los Angeles meet, looks ahead to 2026 season
Grand Slam Track has postponed its last scheduled meet of its first season in Los Angeles, moving the LA meet to its second season in 2026. 'The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track season is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season, and the importance of looking towards 2026 and beyond,' Grand Slam Track founder and commissioner Michael Johnson said in a press release. 'We launched with a bold vision to reimagine professional track racing, and we could not be more excited about what we have accomplished so far, delivering amazing races to a rabid fan base. As we've said all along, we were going to have learnings, make adjustments and continue to improve. Sometimes we have to make moves that aren't comfortable, but what's most important is the future and sustainability of the league. 'The global economic landscape has shifted dramatically in the past year, and this business decision has been made to ensure our long-term stability as the world's premier track league. Our attention is now on 2026, with our eyes set on continuing to deliver the best-in-class storytelling, content, and competition that we have become known for in our debut year. We are in conversations with potential host cities — many of whom have already thrown their names in the hat — to build out an exciting calendar of events for our fans across the globe. We are committed to calling Los Angeles home, and look forward to hosting a Slam in LA as part of the 2026 season.' Grand Slam Track previously held meets in Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6), Miami (May 2-4) and Philadelphia (May 31-June 1). For each meet, the winners of event groups combining results from two races earned $100,000, in addition to base compensation and appearance fees paid to the top athletes. For example, two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek won the men's short sprints group (one 100m and one 200m race) at each of the first three Slams. Bednarek, the only athlete to win all six of their races over the first three Slams, and fellow sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the Racer of the Year titles as the most successful male and female athletes across all groups. Olympic gold medalists including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell and Cole Hocker also took part in the first season. The track and field season continues this summer with major meets including the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships from July 31-Aug. 3 and the World Championships in Tokyo from Sept. 13-21, all airing on NBC Sports and Peacock. Nick Zaccardi,
CBC
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Watch the Diamond League track & field meet from Rome
2025 World Athletics Wanda Diamond League: Rome Live in 1 day Social Sharing Click on the video player above beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET to watch live action from the Diamond League track and field meet in Rome, Italy. There will be no shortage of star power at the Diamond League circuit's latest stop, the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome. The Stadio Olimpico will host 14 events that will award Diamond League points and the lineup includes 11 Olympic champions, 15 Diamond League champions, and a total of 62 medallists from the Olympics and world championships. Here are some of the key events to watch for when the event begins in the Italian capital on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on and CBC Gem: Men's 100m The start list for this contest includes Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and Paris 2024 bronze medallist Fred Kerley of the United States, as well as fellow Americans Trayvon Bromell, Courtney Lindsay, and Brandon Hicklin. The 4:38 p.m. ET race will also feature Italy's Filippo Tortu and Chituru Ali, Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, and Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme. Watch all the action from Diamond League in Rome beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on and CBC Gem. Click here for the full broadcast schedule. This season's world lead in the 100 is held by American Kenny Bednarek, who ran to a time of s 9.86 seconds at the Grand Slam Track stop in Philadelphia last weekend. Bednarek joined Trackside hosts Perdita Felicien and Aaron Brown this week to talk about his newfound confidence, Grand Slam Track's success so far, and his goals for this season. WATCH | Kenny Bednarek joins Trackside: Kenny Bednarek on newfound confidence, success in Grand Slam Track 1 hour ago Duration 8:46 The American sprinter discusses what has led to his improved 100m, Grand Slam Track's success so far and his goals for this season. Women's discus This event begins features two double Olympic champions, Valarie Allman of the U.S. and Croatia's Sandra Elkasevic-Perkovic. Also competing are three world champions: American Laulauga Tausaga, Cuba's Yaimé Perez, and China's Feng Bin. Italy's Daisy Osakue, Germans Kristin Pudenz and Marike Steinacker, Jorinde Van Klinken of the Netherlands, and Sweden's Vanessa Kamga will also be in action. Women's 5,000m Two world record holders headline the field of 18 runners in the women's 5,000m (3:31 p.m. ET): Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay owns the fastest time in the 5,000 (14:00.21), while Kenya's Beatrice Chebet has the record in the 10,000 (28:54.14). Men's 400m A trio of Olympic champions will compete in the men's 400m in Rome: Paris 2024 winner Quincy Hall of the U.S., London 2012 champion Kirani James of Grenada, and American Vernon Norwood, who's a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 4x400m relay. Also lining up for the 3:59 p.m. ET race are South Africa's Zakithi Nene, Botswana's Collen Kebinatshipi, Belgium's Alexander Doom, Great Britain's Charlie Dobson, Hungary's Attila Molnar, and Italy's Edoardo Scotti. For more information on athletics events streaming live on CBC Sports this season, click here to see the full broadcast schedule.
CNA
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
McLaughlin-Levrone impresses in 100m debut in Philadelphia
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ventured beyond her usual 400 metres event, clocking an impressive 11.21 seconds to take second place in her first professional 100 metres flat race at the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia on Sunday. The American four-time Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400 metres hurdles, accustomed to dominating the one-lap event, found herself beaten by Jamaica's Ackera Nugent, who won in 11.11 seconds. Nugent's victory completed a weekend double, securing the women's short hurdles group with a perfect 24 points following her success in Saturday's 100 metres hurdles. American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden scorched the track with a blistering time of 10.73 seconds in the 100 metres, cementing her victory in the short sprints group with 24 points after her 200 metres triumph on Saturday. Meanwhile, Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino dominated the women's long sprints group with 24 points, having won the 200 metres in 22.46 seconds. Britain's Lina Nielsen also shone, capturing the 400 metres hurdles in 52.60 seconds, while Etiopia Diribe Welteji secured victory in the 800 metres in 1:58.94. In the men's events, American Kenny Bednarek shaved one-hundredth of a second off his personal best in the 100 metres, finishing in 9.86 seconds and took the short sprints group getting 24 points. Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Josh Kerr from Britain beat gold medallist Cole Hocker by just seven-hundredths of a second in a thrilling 1500 metres race, finishing in 3:34.44. American Trevor Bassitt provided late drama in the 400 metres hurdles, outduelling Alison dos Santos and Chris Robinson to win in 45.47 seconds. He also won the men's long hurdles group with 20 points. There were also wins for Americans Trey Cunningham in the short hurdles group 100 metres with a time of 10.36 seconds and Nico Young in the men's 3000 metres in his first Grand Slam Track appearance, while Dominican Alexander Ogando took the men's 200 metres with a time of 20.13 seconds. The Grand Slam Track season will conclude with its fourth meeting in Los Angeles on June 27-29.
