"I’m aiming for one thing - 3 gold medals"- Kenny Bednarek sets bigger ambitions for LA 2028 after winning the silver medal at Paris Olympics

Kenny Bednarek had a largely positive performance at the Paris Olympics, walking away from the Games with yet another 200m silver. Taking some time to reflect on his outing at Stade De France, the sprinter penned a note to share his gratitude with fans while setting new targets for himself in the coming years.

Bednarek opened his campaign at Paris in the 100m, marking his first major global outing in the event. While typically a specialist in the 200, the sprinter impressed in the shorter distance as well, qualifying for the finals where he finished seventh with a time of 9.88s.

The 25-year-old then went on to repeat his performance from Tokyo in the 200m, clinching silver behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo. However, a hitch in the plan came in the 4x100m relay final, where the American messed up his leg, leading to the USA finishing off of the podium yet again.

Now, taking some time to reflect on the good and bad experiences in Paris, Kenny Bednarek penned a lengthy note on X (formerly Twitter), writing,

“2x Olympian and 2x Silver Medalist. Representing my country and Team USA is an honor I’ll never take lightly. Competing in three events this year has taught me so much, and it’s only fueled my hunger for more. LA 2028 is in my sights and I’m aiming for one thing: 3 gold medals.”

He went on to extend his gratitude to fans for their support, saying,

“I’m filled with gratitude for this incredible journey. Walking onto the track and hearing the crowd roar my name every single time is a feeling I’ll never forget. The support I’ve received this year, whether in person, online or back home has been overwhelming in the best way possible. It was so much more than I could’ve imagined and it made me genuinely happy and deeply appreciative of all of you.”

Kenny Bednarek ended his statement by thanking his family, his partner, and the team that works with him.

“I’m especially thankful for my mom, my girlfriend, my family, my friends and everyone on my support team who believed in me and helped me reach this point. Getting here truly takes a team and the sacrifices made along the way are worth it when you have the right people beside you.”

Kenny Bednarek on his error in the 4x100m relay

After a strong performance in the individual events, Kenny Bednarek competed in the men's 4x100m relay, hoping to claim his third Olympic medal in Paris. Team USA was an overwhelming favorite to win gold, despite the absence of reigning World and Olympic Champion Noah Lyles.

After a fantastic run in the opening rounds, USA’s for the 4x100m finals featured Christian Coleman on the opening leg, Kenny Bednarek and Kyree King in the second and third legs, with Fred Kerley playing the role of the anchor.

Coleman opened strong, but a weak handoff triggered by Bednarek starting from his position early led to the team finishing out of the top three. They were then disqualified after footage revealed that their handoff took place outside of the designated zone.

After this disappointment, Bednarek issued a statement about his performance, writing on his Instagram story,

“Yesterday was a tough lesson and I know my performance in the 4x100m relay wasn't what my teammates or many of you expected. I share your frustrations, but I firmly believe team USA consists of the best athletes in the world and we'll use this experience to come back better, faster, and stronger.”

Paris marked the first time Kenny Bednarek ran the 4x100m relay on the global stage. While his debut in the event might not be what he had hoped for, fans will certainly be looking forward to seeing him perfect his craft at coming competitions.