"I think we're going to get the job done" - Kenny Bednarek on his aim to win gold in Paris 2024

American sprinter Kenny Bednarek is aiming to go one step further and achieve the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. At the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Bednarek clinched the silver medal in the men’s 200m, clocking a personal best (PB) time of 19.68.

In 2021, Kenny Bednarek clocked the most sub-20 times in the men’s 200 meters, with 12 in overall conditions and 10 in wind-legal conditions, the most by any athlete in a single season. Besides this, he was ranked as the No. 1 sprinter in the men’s 200m event at the end of the 2021 season by the World Athletics.

In an interview with TMJ4, a news station based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States (affiliated with NBC), Bednarek spoke about his plans for Paris 2024:

"It adds motivation because I was that close to getting the gold that one time. So every time I see it? You know it's always like dang, I almost had it. So now what do I gotta do different to get it this year you know. So yeah, it's just like I said. It's out there for display and it's a constant reminder of what I could have had back then.”

Bednarek further stated:

“But now, you know, it's the goal to get this year. And being the second fastest is nice, but I wanna be, you know, the number one. So far the past couple years it's eluded me. The goal is to get number one and you know stay on top when I get there."

He added:

“Like, I said this is my second chance of getting that gold medal. And I'll be able to actually have my friends and family there. And it's going to mean the world. Like, I think we're going to get the job done this year."

The 2022 World Championships silver medalist stated that since he was so close to getting gold at Tokyo 2020, he gets a constant feeling that the gold medal was almost achieved.

This motivates him to try different methods ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024 to reach his goal of becoming an Olympic Champion. At the Paris Olympics 2024, Kenny Bednarek will get a second chance of grabbing the gold medal.

Kenny Bednarek is also known as Kung Fu Kenny

Kenny Bednarek at the World Athletics Championships 2022 (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Kenny Bednarek earned the nickname “Kung Fu Kenny" for his appearance which makes him stand out as an athlete. He is often seen wearing a colorful hachimaki-style headband and making a tai-chi-inspired greeting during his competitions.

In an interview with Sportstar, he stated:

“Some of the girls have colorful hair and nails. In the men’s side, there’s nothing like that. We all have the same gear and everything. I wanted to have my own push on the track, and it made sense for me because the kung fu culture has a set of values that resonate with me like discipline, humbleness, dedication.”

According to the American sprinter, this is an idea that both he and his girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet, came up with for the athlete to remain in the spotlight. Besides this, he had previously stated, in an interview with OlympicTalk that he knew a bit of Tai chi, the internal Chinese martial art, and intends to learn Karate.