Kenny Bednarek: Always Winning Silver Is a Good Problem Ahead of Olympic Rivalry With Noah Lyles

Kenny Bednarek has his eyes firmly set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he aims not only for gold but also to shatter records in both the 100m and 200m events.

Currently in Kolkata as an event ambassador for the Tata Steel World 25K, the American athlete shared his ambitious goals.

"I want to hit 19.3 in the 200m, or 19.2. I know I have the capabilities of doing that," Bednarek stated. "For the 100m, I want to see if I can crack 9.72 or 9.69."

A perennial contender, Bednarek has earned the nickname "the silver surfer" after securing second place in the 200m at both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, as well as at the World Championships. While proud of his consistency, he is determined to upgrade his medal colour.

"I mean, you know I’m the silver surfer right now, so I definitely want to change that colour," he remarked. "But that’s a good problem to have, being able to be on the podium many times. Having the same colour is nice, but eventually, we need to upgrade."

Bednarek anticipates that the competition will only intensify in the coming years. "People are just going to keep getting better," he said.

"So, me going into this year and next year and the year of LA, it’s just going to be better and better every single time I step on the track."

The rivalry with compatriot Noah Lyles, who won 100m gold in Paris and 200m bronze in both 2020 and 2024, adds to the challenge. Bednarek acknowledges that success requires a combination of physical prowess and mental fortitude.

"Without the mental side, it doesn’t matter how much you do physically," he explained. "I’ve seen a lot of talented people in my sport who hit the times they need to in practice, so they’re in physical shape. But then, when the gun goes off for the meet, they don’t perform, and it’s just because of the mental side."

To gain a competitive edge, Bednarek meticulously analyses his performances with his coach, focusing on every detail from start to finish.

"The first thing I do when I go look at the film with my coach is, you know, what did I do with the start? Did I react?" he said. "My reaction time might be a little bit off. And we’re talking about milliseconds, right?"

He also scrutinises the middle and end of his races. "More important for me is what did I do at the end? Am I maintaining max speed or am I messing up with form or technique?" he noted.

"What’s going to be the biggest difference-maker is, are you technically sound? I can hit top speed faster than somebody else, but if I’m not technically sound, then I’m going to decelerate faster."

Looking ahead to the 2028 Games on home soil, Kenny Bednarek, who will be nearly 31, is optimistic about Team USA's prospects.

"The USA is looking very good. Noah got to secure the gold for us for Paris, which is a good thing," he said. "Especially since the Olympics are going to be at home, I think that’s going to be one of the most important things. Make sure to try and fight for our country and get a bunch of medals."