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The two-time Olympic silver medalist aimed a brutal dig at Ferdinand Omanyala after obliterating him on home soil in the final of the 100m race back in April.
Kenny Bednarek, double Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters, has finally shared the story behind his now-famous jab at Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, after winning the 100m race at the Absa Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, last April.
Omanyala had confidently declared prior to the event that he would defend his home turf, stating, “No one should come to my territory and beat me... In Africa, we really take charge of our lands.” Unfortunately for Omanyala, the highly anticipated showdown didn’t go as planned. Despite his strong words, he finished in fifth place with a time of 10.03 seconds, as Bednarek stormed to victory, clocking 9.91 seconds amid rainy conditions and two false starts.
Bednarek, along with fellow American sprinters Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley, couldn’t resist poking fun at Omanyala.
Kerley added three skull emojis on social media to express his amusement, while Lyles responded with a laughing emoji and a humorous GIF.
Bednarek, however, took his banter one step further by posting, “I just bought land in Kenya,” playfully referencing Omanyala’s claim of territorial dominance. His post, accompanied by a clip of Omanyala’s statement, quickly went viral.
Explaining his mindset on USTAF's Journey To Gold podcast, Bednarek revealed, "When we were going to Kenya, I was just doing my job, getting ready for the meet, and one of my teammates sent me a video of Omanyala’s statement. I thought, ‘When I win, I get to say this,’ because I came into the race thinking I would win. I’m a competitor. My girlfriend and I even joked that I should do it.”
Reflecting on the atmosphere surrounding the race, Bednarek explained that his intention wasn’t to trash-talk.
“I’m not a trash talker, but I thought it would be fun. I knew everybody would love that.” It was a calculated yet lighthearted response to Omanyala’s claim, and Bednarek felt this year’s visit to Kenya was the perfect opportunity to back up his confidence.
"I came to the race thinking, ‘Third time’s the charm.’ I had been there before, recovering from injury, and this time, I just had a different mentality.”
Bednarek’s playful jibe also showcased his competitive spirit. Known for his prowess in the 200 meters, he’s earned medals and set personal records against some of the fastest athletes in the world.
He qualified for the 2024 Olympics in both the 100m and 200m, setting a personal best of 9.87 in the 100m final. At the Paris Olympics, he advanced to the 100m final, finishing seventh with a time of 9.88, and won silver in the 200m, clocking 19.62 seconds behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.
Despite the light-hearted banter, both Bednarek and Omanyala share a mutual respect, each driven by the desire to be the best on any track, whether in Kenya or elsewhere.
And for Bednarek, his humorous "land purchase" tweet only added to the drama and excitement surrounding the Kip Keino Classic, giving fans and athletes alike a memorable exchange that reflects the fun yet fierce rivalry on the track.
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