Gold rush: Bednarek eyes LA28 glory

Kenny Bednarek says he is gunning for gold at next year's world championships in Beijing and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 after shedding his "silver man" tag with a sprint double at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships last month.

The United States sprinter has been a perennial contender over 200 meters, winning two Olympic and two world championships silver medals, but his breakthrough sprint double in Budapest offered proof he is a threat over both distances on the big stage.

"It's one of the most important things to be somebody who's always there, but it's also a bittersweet situation because you're clearly one of the best, but not the best," Bednarek said.

"That was the thing I wanted to improve on going into this year: hit a lot of good times and get some wins here and there. My goal was to make sure to put everything together when it mattered the most.

"Finally getting global championships, gold medals, it was a sigh of relief. You've probably heard people call me the 'silver man' and all that. So it was getting that stigma off of me and proving myself right."

Nicknamed "Kung Fu Kenny" because of his signature headband, Bednarek finished seventh in the Paris Olympics 100m final, but said the work he has been doing to improve his start has been paying off.

With sprint king Usain Bolt watching from the stands in Budapest, the 27-year-old clocked 9.85 seconds to beat Jamaican world champion Oblique Seville.

"My Achilles heel has always been my reaction time and, sometimes, maybe just not getting out of the blocks the way I wanted to," said Bednarek, who posted a personal best of 9.79 seconds in the 100m last year.

"When we were going into this year, it was about being consistent and more intentional with what I was doing coming out of the blocks, not trying to sit in when the gun goes off."

'Change my life'

Winning the 200m in Budapest over a field that included 2020 Olympic champion Andre De Grasse and Paris Games gold medalist Letsile Tebogo was a huge confidence booster, he said.

"Winning the 100m and 200m, especially in the fashion I did doing four races in two days, that made my confidence go through the roof," he added.

"It's something I've been trying to do over the last few years and I was finally able to. Knowing exactly what I did, the preparation and work I put in leading up to the races, gives me a blueprint of what I need to do in the future.

"I'm very confident doing the same thing, going to the world championships and the Olympics."

Bednarek looked forward to competing at an Olympics on home soil in 2028 and said winning gold would be life changing.

"I think it plays a little bit of a role. It's in Los Angeles, so all my family members will definitely be able to go," he added.

"It definitely adds a lot more motivation, being able to win a gold, or more than one. The whole of the US will be watching. I think it also would be a bit easier, just because we don't have to travel and deal with jet lag.

"I think winning those gold medals will change my life — and other people's lives. A lot more opportunities would be open. We'll see what happens."

India's 2036 bid

Bednarek knows his days as a sprinter will likely be long gone when the 2036 Olympics come around, but he says he will definitely be watching from the stands if India is chosen to host the global showpiece in 10 years' time.

The 27-year-old, who won silver in the 200 meters at the Tokyo and Paris Games, is in a relationship with Indian golfer Sharmila Nicollet and says the country's rich mix of cultures, languages and traditions would make it the ideal Olympic host.

"I actually like that idea," he said. "I've always said that to be able to have an Olympics or a world championships in India, or anywhere else in the world, would be nice, just because part of being in sports is to travel the world and see different cultures.

"Being in a place like India, it's one of the best places to do that. They have so many different languages and food. I've been there. I have an Indian girlfriend. I just love the culture every time I go there."

Bednarek's comments came before the International Olympic Committee confirmed on Tuesday that India was one of seven countries in the running to host the 2036 Games.

The world's most populous nation is seeking to stage its first Olympics and is up against Germany, Qatar, Hungary, South Korea, South Africa and Turkiye.

India hopes to showcase its ability to successfully deliver a large-scale multisport event by hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, and is also bidding to hold the 2038 Asian Games in the city.

"It would definitely be exciting if they can get that done for 2036," Bednarek added of the Olympic bid. "I don't think I'll be there running, but I'll be there watching, for sure."