Kenny Bednarek facts for kids
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Bednarek at the 2022 World Athletics Championships
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| Born | October 14, 1998 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprints 200m/100m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Indian Hills Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Dennis Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World finals | 2022 Eugene 200m finals silver medalist 19.77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | 2020 Tokyo 200m finals silver medalist 19.68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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Kenny Bednarek, born on October 14, 1998, is a super-fast American runner. He's a track and field sprinter, which means he runs short, quick races. Kenny is especially good at the 200-meter race. He has won silver medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the 2022 World Athletics Championships, and the 2024 Summer Olympics. He's from Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
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Kenny's Early Life
Kenny Bednarek was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his twin brother, Ian, were adopted by Mary Bednarek. They moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Both brothers started running youth track when they were in second grade.
When Kenny ran for Rice Lake High School, he won seven state titles. He also helped his team win a 4x400 relay championship. In 2018, his 200-meter time of 20.43 seconds was the fastest in the nation for high schoolers.
Kenny also played football in high school. He was a wide receiver and kick returner. He scored 17 touchdowns in his junior and senior years. His Rice Lake Warriors teams won state championships in both track and football during his senior year. Kenny still holds Wisconsin records for the 200 and 400 meters.
Running in College
Kenny went to Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. He said he wanted to go to a bigger university. But he felt that God had a different plan for him.
At Indian Hills, Kenny ran the fastest indoor 200m in the U.S. that year. It was the second-fastest time in the world for the indoor season.
In May 2019, Kenny ran an amazing 19.49 seconds in the 200 meters. This was at the NJCAA National Championships. The next day, he ran 19.82 seconds in the 200 meters. He also ran the 400 meters in 44.73 seconds on the same day. He became the national champion in both events.
Only one other person, Isaac Makwala from Botswana, has ever run under 20 seconds in the 200m and under 45 seconds in the 400m on the same day. Kenny was the youngest athlete and the only American to do this. Because of his great achievements, Kenny was named the "USATF Athlete of the Week."
Becoming a Professional Runner
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In July 2019, Kenny left Indian Hills Community College. He signed a professional contract with Nike. He started training in Florida with Justin Gatlin, a former world champion sprinter. Kenny said he trusted Nike's plan for him.
He shared that he used to focus on the 400-meter race in high school. But he successfully switched to the 200-meter race. He said the 200m was his main event. He also thought about trying the 100m race in the future.
At the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Kenny made it to the 200 meters final. He got a hamstring injury during the race but still finished. Later, he was given a spot in the 2019 World Athletics Championships. This was because the winner, Noah Lyles, already had a spot. Even with his injury, Kenny competed but couldn't qualify for the next round.
On August 10, 2020, Kenny ran a world-leading time of 19.80 seconds in the 200 meters. This was during the season shortened by COVID-19.
Olympic and World Championship Success
On August 4, 2021, Kenny won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He finished the 200-meter men's final in 19.68 seconds.
On September 9, 2021, Kenny won the 2021 Diamond League 200-meter title. He won the race in Zürich with a time of 19.70 seconds. In 2021, Kenny ran the 200 meters in under 20 seconds more than any other athlete. He did this 12 times! He ended the season ranked number one in the 200 meters by World Athletics.
On July 21, 2022, Kenny won another silver medal. This was in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. He ran it in 19.77 seconds. Noah Lyles, who Kenny had beaten in Tokyo, set a new American record in that race.
In 2024, Kenny qualified for the Olympic team again. He placed second in both the 100m and 200m races at the Olympic trials. Noah Lyles won both races. In the 200m, Kenny ran a personal best of 19.59 seconds. This was his first time making a global team for the 100m race. He also ran a personal best of 9.87 seconds in the 100m final.
At the Paris Olympics, Kenny made it to the 100m final and placed 7th. He also qualified for the 200m final. In the final, he won another silver medal with a time of 19.62 seconds. He finished behind Letsile Tebogo.
In September 2024, it was announced that Kenny would join the new Grand Slam Track league. This league was started by famous sprinter Michael Johnson.
Kenny's Personal Life
Kenny Bednarek's nickname is "Kung Fu Kenny." He got this name because he wears a tie around his head during races, like the character Rambo.
He has a pet dog, a Husky, named Rambo.
Kenny is a Catholic. He is dating an Indian golfer named Sharmila Nicollet.
Statistics
Here are some of Kenny Bednarek's best running times.
Personal Best Times
| Event | Time | Venue | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 9.87 | Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | June 23, 2024 | U.S. Olympic Team Trials Final |
| 200 m | 19.59 | Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | June 29, 2024 | U.S. Olympic Team Trials Final |
| 19.49 A w | Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S. | May 17, 2019 | This time was helped by high altitude and strong wind. | |
| 400 m | 44.73 A | Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S. | May 18, 2019 | This time was helped by high altitude. |
Major Competitions
Here are some of the big races Kenny has competed in, representing the 
United States.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 7th (Heat) | 200 m | 21.50 | |
| 2021 | Müller Grand Prix Gateshead | Gateshead, England | 1st | 200 m | 20.33 | |
| Doha Diamond League | Doha, Qatar | 1st | 200 m | 19.88 | ||
| U.S. Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 100 m | 9.89 | Personal Best | |
| 2nd | 200 m | 19.78 | ||||
| Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 2nd | 200 m | 19.68 | Personal Best | |
| Prefontaine Classic | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 200 m | 19.80 | ||
| Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League Final | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 200 m | 19.70 | ||
| 2022 | USATF Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 200 m | 19.87 | Season Best |
| World Championships | 2nd | 200 m | 19.77 | Season Best | ||
| 2023 | USATF Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 200 m | 19.82 | Season Best |
| World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 5th | 200 m | 20.07 | ||
| 2024 | U.S. Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 100 m | 9.87 | Personal Best |
| 2nd | 200 m | 19.59 | Personal Best | |||
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 2nd | 200 m | 19.62 | ||
| – | 4 × 100 m relay | DQ |
Diamond League Wins
Kenny has won the 200m race in the Diamond League at these events:
- 2021: Gateshead, Doha, Zürich
Images for kids
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Bednarek at the 2022 World Athletics Championships
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Bednarek at the 2019 World Athletics Championships
See also
In Spanish: Kenneth Bednarek para niños
