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Kenny Bednarek has revealed the attribute Usain Bolt mastered during his racing days he needs to add to his sprinting in order to get to the next level.
Two-time Olympic 200-meter silver medalist Kenny Bednarek has identified the key improvement he needs to become unstoppable: mastering his start, inspired by legendary sprinter Usain Bolt.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bednarek claimed his second consecutive silver medal in the 200 meters, finishing behind Botswana's Letsile Tebogo but ahead of compatriot Noah Lyles.
While excelling in the 200 meters, Bednarek also competed in the highly competitive 100 meters final, clocking an impressive 9.88 seconds.
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21:00 - 22.09.2024
Kenny Bednarek reflects on tactical blunder involving Kishane Thompson that dashed his 100m gold hopes in Paris
Bednarek finished seventh in 9.88 in what is perhaps the closest 100m final in Olympics history in Paris last month, but admitted to a tactical blunder during the race that cost him the ultimate price.
However, in a historic race where all eight sprinters finished under 9.92 seconds, his time landed him seventh. The race was won by Lyles in 9.79 seconds, narrowly edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by 0.005 seconds.
The emotional toll of the competition was evident, as Bednarek was seen being consoled by his coach Dennis Mitchell in footage captured for season two of the Netflix series Sprint.
Now reflecting on his performance, Bednarek has turned his focus to an area he believes will unlock his full potential: the start.
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Standing at 6’1’’, Bednarek acknowledges his struggle to generate the explosive power required at the starting blocks, a challenge compounded by his height.
“It is something common with a lot of taller sprinters,” Bednarek explained during an appearance on Dr. Don Wood. “Since I am so tall, it is harder for me to get a certain angle smaller athletes have to be explosive out of the blocks.”
He compared his start to that of Usain Bolt, who, despite being 6’5’’, mastered an effective start that allowed him to stay competitive in the early phases of the race.
“Usain Bolt did not have the best start in the world, but he had a good enough start where he is with everybody, and that is all he needed,” Bednarek noted.
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“That is what I need to work on. If I can get out with them, the rest I can do—that is the easy part. The hard part is only the beginning.”
Bednarek also highlighted the natural advantage shorter sprinters have due to their lower center of gravity, which allows for more favorable angles when accelerating out of the blocks.
“A lot of shorter sprinters have it easy because their bodies are so low to the ground, and once they get out of the blocks, the angles that they have, it is a lot more beneficial for them than me,” he explained.
In addition to the physical challenges, Bednarek admitted to overthinking at the start of races, which he believes hinders his performance.
“I think a little too much and let it get to my head,” he confessed.
As Bednarek continues to refine his craft, his acknowledgment of these areas for improvement underscores his commitment to achieving greatness.
If he can strike the balance between physical adjustments and mental focus, the American sprinter might soon find himself at the top of the podium, transforming his silver streak into gold dominance.
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