"I made mistakes & I’m not afraid to own them"- Kenny Bednarek reflects on the 'best season' of his career after winning silver at the Paris Olympics

By Adityan Pillai

Modified Sep 21, 2024 02:05 GMT

Kenny Bednarek reflected on his performances in the 2024 season after running his final race at the Brussels Diamond League. The American athlete defeated 200m Olympic Champion Letsile Tebogo to win the final race of his 2024 season.

Bednarek competed in the 100m and the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trails and finished second behind Noah Lyles to secure a spot in the U.S. Olympic team for the quadrennial games in Paris. He made his second consecutive Olympic appearance in the 200m, which was the first time he qualified for a major event in the 100m.

Kenny Bednarek won the silver medal in the 200m and finished seventh in the 100m. He was a part of the 4x100m relay team that was disqualified in the finals at the Paris Olympics. Post the Olympic Games, he made back-to-back appearances in the Diamond Leagues.

After concluding his season with a win at the Brussels Diamond League Finals. He took to Instagram to reflect on his performance in the Olympic season.

"1x Olympic Silver Medal 🥈3x Diamond League Wins 💎4x Personal Bests ⏱️Diamond League Champion 🏆. And so much more. 2024, wow. This was the best season of my career. I got to show the world what a healthy Kenny was capable of, what I could do when I’m not injured, and how fast I can run when I hear the roar of the fans cheering me on," he wrote.

"I had my second chance to compete on the Olympic stage, this time in 3 events. I changed the narrative from just being a 200m runner to becoming one of the most versatile and dangerous competitors on the track. I made mistakes, and I’m not afraid to own them. But I also made the podium, and I’m proud of that. And after everything I pushed through to close out my season, I became the Diamond League Champion. I couldn’t be more satisfied with my performance," he added.

Furthermore, Kenny Bednarek thanked his family, team, and coach for their unwavering support throughout all the setbacks as he chased his ultimate goal of being an Olympic champion.

Kenny Bednarek on winning the silver medal at the Paris Olympics

Kenny Bednarek at the Wanda Diamond League 2024 Final - Allianz Memorial Van Damme Brussels - Source: Getty

Kenny Bednarek won the silver medal in the men's 200m, finishing behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana with a performance of 19.62s. He took to Instagram to express his thoughts on winning his second Olympic medal in the event after the quadrennial games in Tokyo.

"Representing my country and hometown at the Olympics is the greatest honor of my life. It’s more than just a competition — it’s a celebration of global unity, perseverance and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Securing another medal🥈is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, sacrifices and support from everyone who believed in me," he wrote.

Bednarek will continue to pursue his ultimate goal of winning the Olympic gold medal as he aims to improve his performance and dominate the circuit in the next season.