Wisconsin sprinter Kenny Bednarek added another accolade to his impressive career by winning silver in the men’s 200 meters at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The Rice Lake native delivered a stellar performance on Thursday, finishing the race in 19.62 seconds, just milliseconds behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who took the gold. U.S. teammate Noah Lyles secured the bronze, rounding out the podium in a highly competitive race.
This silver medal marks Bednarek’s second consecutive runner-up finish in the Olympic 200m, having also claimed silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The achievement is a testament to his consistency and determination on the global stage.
Earlier this summer, Bednarek expressed confidence about his prospects in Paris, telling Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), “For Paris, I plan on throwing down a hot time and shocking the world.” His silver medal performance certainly lived up to that promise, solidifying his status as one of the top sprinters in the world.
Bednarek’s journey to Olympic success is a source of pride not just for him but also for his hometown of Rice Lake and the entire United States. “I wanted to make Rice Lake and the U.S. proud,” Bednarek said, and his back-to-back Olympic silver medals have done just that.
In addition to his success in the 200m, Bednarek competed in the 100-meter final last week, where he placed seventh in a closely contested race. However, his Olympic journey is not over yet. Bednarek has another chance to add to his medal tally on Friday when he competes in the 4x100-meter men’s relay.
As he prepares for this final event, Bednarek remains focused and determined, aiming to bring home yet another medal for Team USA and further cement his legacy as one of the world’s premier sprinters.
Discover More Content
