‘Tebogo ran a better race’ - Kenny Bednarek gives Botswana rival his flowers as he reveals what cost him Olympics gold

‘Tebogo ran a better race’ - Kenny Bednarek gives Botswana rival his flowers as he reveals what cost him Olympics gold

Joel Omotto 07:40 - 26.11.2024

Olympics 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek has opened up on what cost him gold at the Paris Games having been upset by Botswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo.

American sprinter Kenny Bednarek is still coming to terms with missing out on Olympics gold at the Paris 2024 Games.

Bednarek headed into the Olympics as one of the top sprinters in the world and there was hope that he could upset world champion Noah Lyles and win gold in 200m, having recorded some fast times over the distance coming into the event.

However, it was not Lyles who won the race but Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, upsetting both him and his American colleague, with Bednarek having to settle for second place for a second successive Olympics.

Bednarek has admitted how it left him upset that he did not achieve his ultimate goal but he accepts Tebogo was better on the day while explaining the dynamics that might have led to his failure to claim victory.

“I was upset because I didn’t get the gold and this is the second time I have been snubbed of the gold medal at the Olympics,” said Bednarek.

“You know Tebogo ran a better race that day, when you are in that moment, there is a lot of things going on and when it comes down to like milliseconds of certain things like a split decision can make a big change in that race,” he added.

In the final, Bednarek clocked 19.62 for second place as Tebogo won in 19.46 while Lyles completed the podium in 19.70.

The 26-year-old had finished eighth in the 100m final and also missed out on a medal in the 4x100m relay when Team USA fumbled their baton exchange before they were later disqualified.

Bednarek won silver in 200m at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games and having overcome injuries, he was ready for the challenge in Paris but Tebogo had other ideas.