Kenny Bednarek’s Medals

Born on October 14, 1998, Bednarek and his brother, Ian, were adopted by Mary Bednarek, who nurtured their passion for running from the second grade. At Rice Lake High School, Bednarek played both track and football, he claimed seven individual state titles and led his team to a 4x400m relay championship.

Bednarek became the youngest and only American athlete to break the 20-second barrier in the 200m and the 45-second mark in the 400m on the same day at the 2019 NJCAA National Championships in Hobbs, New Mexico. This accomplishment earned him the prestigious "USATF Athlete of the Week" honor.

Coached by Justin Gatlin, a former world champion, Bednarek quickly gained recognition. In 2020, despite the pandemic, he ran a world-leading time in the 200m at a Florida meet. Bednarek earned a silver medal in the 200m with an excellent time, setting a personal best.

Kenny Bednarek’s Olympic Medals Wins

Kenny Bednarek's Olympic medal tally is currently one silver medal, which he won in the 200m event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This performance in the final saw him clock a personal best time of 19.68 seconds, winning the silver medal behind Noah Lyles.

Kenny Bednarek’s Medals Breakdown

World Championships

At the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, Bednarek won a silver medal in the 200m event with a time of 19.77 seconds. Despite being outpaced by Noah Lyles, who set an American record of 19.31 seconds, Bednarek's performance was remarkable.

Summer Olympics

Bednarek's sole Olympic medal to date is the silver he won in the 200m event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he clocked an impressive 19.68 seconds, setting a new personal best at the time.

Kenny Bednarek’s Olympic Appearances

Kenny Bednarek has participated in the following Olympic Games as of 2024:

• 2020 Tokyo Olympics (1 silver medal in 200m)

Kenny Bednarek’s Record & Achievement

• Holds the record for being the youngest and only American athlete to break 20 seconds in the 200m and 45 seconds in the 400m on the same day (May 17-18, 2019) at the NJCAA National Championships in Hobbs, New Mexico.

• Ranked No. 1 in the 200m event by World Athletics in 2021, with the most sub-20 performances (12 total, 10 wind-legal) in a single season.

• Won the Diamond League 200m title in 2021, winning the season championship at the Weltklasse Meet in Zürich with a time of 19.70 seconds.

Kenny Bednarek’s Olympic Journey

Kenny Bednarek's path to becoming a top sprinter and olympian began in his Wisconsin hometown where he participated in both track and football in high school. Bednarek went on to study at the Indian Hills Community College, developing his skills and gaining national recognition.

In 2019, at the NJCAA National Championships, he achieved a record-setting feat, becoming the youngest American ever to break 20 seconds in the 200 meters and 45 seconds in the 400 meters on the same day. This achievement caught the eye of Nike, who offered him a professional contract. Bednarek then began training in Florida with renowned sprinter Justin Gatlin.

In 2020, he ran a world-leading time in the 200 meters at a Florida meet. His true breakthrough came at the Tokyo Olympics, where he won the silver medal in the 200 meters with a personal best time. This accomplishment established him as a world-class sprinter and set the stage for future success.

He went on to win the Diamond League 200m title in 2021 and secured another silver medal at the World Championships in 2022.