Path of sprinter Kenny Bednarek led to Olympic silver medals. Now ‘Kung Fu Kenny' searches for gold.
The path of sprinter Kenny Bednarek has been far from easy or conventional. Plenty of uphill climbs, too.
His experiences, though — foster care, being adopted, going the community college route, constantly overshadowed — has only added power to his alter ego, 'Kung Fu Kenny.' That version of him emerges when he steps on the track and slips on his signature headband.
That version of him looks at his two Olympic silver medals in two ways — reminders, yes, of the success he's had, but a motivator for the success still yet to achieve.
This season, he's sharpened his burst out of the starting blocks and took his nutrition to another level in an effort to turn silver finishes into gold. That starts possibly later this season at world championships in Tokyo and down the road at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
'I know I have the capability of being a champion,' said Bednarek, who races this weekend in Kingston, Jamaica, at the inaugural event of Grand Slam Track, a new professional league. 'I've always just been hungry.'
The path to the Olympics
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he and his fraternal twin brother, Ian, were adopted out of foster care at 4 years old by Mary Ann Bednarek, who'd already taken in two girls. The family moved to Rice Lake in northwest Wisconsin when he was 12.
'I had a lot of issues when I was a kid,' the 26-year-old Kenny Bednarek explained. 'My mom took so much time to help me become the person I am today. I mean, without her love, care and support, I don't know where I would be.
'I might not be 'Kung Fu Kenny.' I might be somewhere stranded. She's the big reason why I'm here today.'
Track, too. Because on the track, Bednarek could let his mind wander — to the places his feet might one day take him.
'Track was just the gateway that let me feel free,' explained Bednarek, who also played football. 'It was just me against the clock.'
From Indian Hills to the Olympics
Bednarek didn't go to a big-time track powerhouse out of high school. Instead, he spent a season at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.
That one season, though, showed Bednarek's vast potential. He won 200 and 400 national titles at the 2019 NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Still, he's been largely overlooked in a crowded field of high-profile sprinters that includes Americans standouts Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley and Erriyon Knighton, along with Andre De Grasse of Canada and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.
Playing second-fiddle used to bother Bednarek and especially his alter ego, 'Kung Fu Kenny.'
'I had a really big chip on my shoulder,' he said. 'It was annoying.'
Winning medals solved that. Maybe not always the favorite in a race, Bednarek always found a way to be in the mix.
Like at the Tokyo Games in 2021, when he finished runner-up to De Grasse in the 200 meters. Or a year later at world championships when he took silver behind Lyles. At the Paris Games last summer, he won another silver in the 200 behind Tebogo.
Last summer's medal remains special because his mom was watching in the stands. She was so happy for him, crying tears of joy, as they embraced after the race.
'Just to be able to shine bright and have my mom witness that, it meant a lot,' he said.
One percent better
These days, he's working out in Winter Garden, Florida, under coach Dennis Mitchell. His training group includes Sha'Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman.
'We just have this iron-sharpens-iron mentality,' said Bednarek, who's sponsored by Nike. 'We're all making each other better.'
His top task this spring is sharpening his starts out of blocks.
'If I can get that down, I feel like nobody is going to be able to beat me,' said Bednarek, whose top time in the 200 is 19.57 seconds. 'I'm always trying to add something that makes me 1% better.'
For his dedication to nutrition — he's eliminated gluten — and overall health, he credits Sharmila Nicollet, a professional golfer from India who he's been dating since 2020.
'I used to think, 'Oh, I can sleep whenever I want, play video games whenever I want, and I'll be fine,'' Bednarek recounted. 'She opened my eyes. It was like, 'OK, this is how you become an Olympian and a medalist. This is what you've got to do.''
Grand Slam debut
Bednarek is among the runners of all distances — and hurdlers — taking part this weekend in Grand Slam Track, which was founded by Hall of Famer Michael Johnson. The new league includes stops in Kingston, Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29). In Kingston, Bednarek will face Kerley & Co. in the 100 on Friday and again in the 200 on Saturday.
'It's an incredible opportunity just to be able to represent this league,' Bednarek said. 'It's all about speed, personalities and telling great stories.'
Like his.
One question he constantly receives: What's the story behind his alter-ego 'Kung Fu Kenny?' Bednarek said it really stems from his love of anime. His favorite character is Naruto, a young ninja who's seeking recognition.
'He's a very persistent character and doesn't give up no matter what,' Bednarek explained. 'I kind of resonate with that. Whatever you want to achieve, it will not come to you — you have to work for it. You have to go get it.'
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
43 minutes ago
- New York Post
Shaq makes bold claim about Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials
Shaquille O'Neal isn't buying Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame résumé just yet. Tatum is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection at 27, but O'Neal is not convinced those accolades are enough to warrant the Celtics star entry into the Hall. On his 'The Big Podcast,' Shaq didn't seem swayed as his co-host, Adam Lefkoe, made Tatum's Hall of Fame case. 'He's at an interesting point because his résumé is already Hall of Fame,' Lefkoe said, to which O'Neal responded: 'What … he's a Hall of Famer?' 3 Shaquille O'Neal isn't convinced about Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials just yet. Screengrab via X/@TheDunkCentral From there, O'Neal claimed that there's a regular Basketball Hall of Fame, and then a 'Bad Motherf–ker Hall of Fame.' Among active players besides LeBron James — a no-brainer selection — Shaq deemed Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic worthy of entry to the 'Bad Motherf–ker Hall of Fame.' By the numbers, Tatum would seem to be well in position to make the Hall of Fame through his first eight years in the league. The NBA title, All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections speak for themselves, and Tatum also has an Olympic gold medal to his name, as Lefkoe went on to note. There are multiple Hall of Famers with similar résumés to Tatum's. 3 Jayson Tatum is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. AP Grant Hill, for instance, was a seven-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA pick but never an NBA champion, and Alonzo Mourning was a one-time champion, seven-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection. On paper, Tatum's resume to this point is on a similar level. Shaq, a Hall of Famer himself, still needs to see more. 3 Shaquille O'Neal isn't sold on Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials. AP Tatum will be out for most — if not all — of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the second round against the Knicks. When he returns, he'll almost surely return to perennial All-Star and All-NBA form, making it even tougher for Shaq to defend his bold take.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Olympic swimmer engulfed in ‘inappropriate' behaviour accusations makes fiery statement
Luana Alonso will no longer stay silent. The Paraguayan swimmer who reportedly was booted out of the Olympic Village during last year's Summer Games has fired back at 'false rumours' surrounding her departure from Paris. Alonso posted a fiery statement on her Instagram stories this week, hitting out at the reports that she was removed for creating an 'inappropriate atmosphere.' 'Let me make this clear: I left the Olympic Village on my own,' she wrote on Wednesday. 'These are false rumours that have hurt my name and my career.' Alonso ignited a firestorm at the Games last summer, going viral for alleged behaviour behind the scenes at the village. The 21-year-old swimmer competed for Paraguay in the women's 100-metre butterfly, but failed to reach the semifinals – and then seemingly announced her abrupt retirement from the sport in a post on Instagram. But instead of heading home, Alonso stayed in the French capital to see the sights – which were well-documented on her social media account – before reportedly got her booted by her country's Olympic committee for creating an 'inappropriate atmosphere.' 'Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,' Larissa Schaerer, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), said in a statement at the time. But, 11 months later, Alonso is now firing back at the accusations. 'The Paraguayan Olympic team claimed I created an 'inappropriate environment' simply because I decided I didn't want to swim anymore,' she said. 'They tried to take my accreditation away, but that's not something they had the right to do. I chose not to hand it over and apparently that was 'inappropriate' to them.' The Daily Mail also reported that Alonso was accused of being a distraction to her fellow competitors with her socializing and attire. She was often seen sporting stylish outfits as opposed to team uniforms and opted to take a trip to Disneyland Paris instead of cheering on her compatriots. 'I was judged for wearing skinny clothes, for socializing, and for not conforming,' she added. 'That's not inappropriate — that's being a young adult. 'I had finished racing. I was no longer obligated to stay. If others saw that as disrespectful, that's on them.' Alonso reportedly checked into a Parisian hotel after leaving the Olympic Village, and visited high-end stores and restaurants. But despite the contentious nature between herself and her country's Olympic committee, the Southern Methodist University alum claims she was asked by Paraguayan swimming officials to return to the pool for the Pan American Junior Games, which are being held in the country's capital, Asunción, this August. 'If I had been treated like a human being, maybe I would have stayed,' she said. 'But they made me feel like a problem.' Olympian kicked out of village for 'inappropriate behaviour' teases return to pool Ex-Playboy model reveals 'painful' divorce from Olympic star Ryan Lochte It's not only the COP that Alonso has in her crosshairs, either. The two-time Olympian also threatened legal action against media outlets that are spreading the 'false rumours' about her. 'I'm seriously considering legal action against the magazines and media outlets spreading false rumours like that I was expelled from the Olympic Village. Really? Who came up with that nonsense? Well that it's not true,' she wrote. She also teased that she would be releasing a video to better explain her thinking. 'Seriously (these) lies are wild and affecting my life and that's why I decided I'm keeping my life lowkey,' she said.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Trump's travel ban allows athletes from affected nations into US for the World Cup and Olympics. Fans may be stuck at home
President Donald Trump's latest travel limitations may keep fans from the 19 named nations from seeing their athletes compete in some of the globe's most important sporting events in the next several years, even if the on-field competition won't be affected. The president's proclamation does not appear to have a major immediate impact on planning for the World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics or other major international sporting events scheduled for his second term in office as athletes, coaches, support staff and immediate family members will still be able to enter the country. But fans from those nations now face an even more uphill battle to see games in person, despite members of the Trump administration encouraging the world to come to the US for these global events. Trump's travel ban fully restricts travel from Afghanistan; Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen. There are partial restrictions for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. But there are exceptions carved out in the proclamation, including for athletes, coaches, important staffers and immediate family for athletes traveling to the US for the World Cup, Olympics and 'other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.' The proclamation also states that people who have existing visas to be in the United States will not have their visas revoked as a part of the travel ban. That means the Iranian national team – which has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup – will be able to play in the tournament, as would Sierre Leone, Sudan, Libya, Burundi, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti should those teams qualify. Those nations are still in the fight for qualification for the World Cup as the tournament field becomes clearer. The Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Chad, Togo and Somalia all appear to be longshots for World Cup qualification and Afghanistan, Laos, Myanmar, Yemen and Turkmenistan have already been eliminated. While the teams, their staffs and their immediate family would be able to travel to the US for the tournament, the travel ban would likely keep most of their fans from coming into the country for any games. With the tournament being hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, fans from the affected nations may be able to still travel to cheer on their teams in the tournament should they be scheduled in either Mexico or Canada. With qualification still ongoing, those fans won't know if that will happen for quite some time – qualification for the tournament doesn't wrap up until later this year and the drawing of teams into groups won't happen until that is done. The US visa process for fans of the affected nations is already arduous and, even without a ban in place, the approvals would take time. There are already concerns over how long approvals for visas into the US may take for fans hoping to see World Cup action. There are 42 countries that are a part of the US visa waiver program, meaning their citizens are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a formal visa. Some of the countries that are most synonymous with the men's World Cup – defending champion Argentina, five-time winner Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and even tournament co-host Mexico – are not a part of that program. While the Trump administration has promised to speed up visa approvals for fans looking to cheer on their teams, the lengthy review process for nations that are not in the visa waiver program might have kept fans from the 19 nations affected by the proclamation from coming to the US anyway. When asked specifically about whether fans from Iran and other affected nations would be given exemption from the travel ban for the World Cup, State Department principal deputy spokesman Thomas Pigott demurred. 'Both people that are coming and Americans would hope that we can have confidence that when people come to United States, when they come, that they are properly vetted,' Pigott told reporters on Thursday. 'I think this goes to the exact same consideration. I think this is part of what it means to host an event of this magnitude, to make sure that we can have that confidence. And again, we're in constant communication with countries about ways that we can see the vetting process we need to see, have that collaboration, make sure that we're having those security concerns addressed.' In a response to CNN Sports' question Friday on whether fans should expect to not be able to come to the US for the World Cup or Olympics, a State Department spokesperson said, 'We are implementing the President's directive to secure U.S. borders and protect American communities and citizens. We are not going to get into hypotheticals or specific cases about application of the Proclamation.' Athletes already in the US, such as the many Venezuelans and Cubans who play in Major League Baseball, are exempted from the travel ban. When asked about these athletes, the White House pointed toward the section of the proclamation that states 'no immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.' Many foreign athletes who play in the United States do so under the P-1A visa and those are valid for five years. There are still some unanswered questions about the travel ban and its effect on international sporting events held in the US. While the World Cup and Olympics are specifically spelled out in the proclamation, other tournaments – like soccer's Gold Cup or track and field meets – are not. CNN has reached out to the State Department for additional information on how the secretary of State would determine what constitutes a major sporting event and what the timeline for that decision would look like. The Trump administration has made it clear that it wants foreign visitors to come to the US for the World Cup and Olympics, but immigration concerns remain top of mind, as evidenced by a comment Vice President JD Vance made last month during the first meeting of the White House's World Cup task force. 'I know we'll have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries,' said Vance. 'We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home. Otherwise, they'll have to talk to (Homeland Security) Secretary (Kristi) Noem.' Noem's department includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is responsible for deportations out of the US. Organizers of LA 2028 said at a news conference on Thursday that they were confident the travel ban will not affect the Summer Olympics and appreciated the federal government for recognizing the Games' importance. 'It was very clear in the directive that the Olympics require special consideration and I actually want to thank the federal government for recognizing that,' LA28 Chairman and President Casey Wasserman said, according to the Associated Press. 'It's very clear that the federal government understands that that's an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for,' he said. 'We have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward through the games.' The US Travel Association said in a statement that, while the proportion of annual foreign visitors affected by the ban is just 0.5%, the major global events taking place in the US over the next few years represent an opportunity to attract new visitors to the US. 'The travel industry supports policies that make the United States both secure and welcoming. In some instances, this is a challenging balance to achieve, and we respect the administration's efforts,' the association told CNN Sports in a statement.
