Kenny Bednarek celebrates qualifying for Paris Olympics 100m final with Dragon Ball Z-inspired message just seconds after confirmation

By Anirudh

Modified Aug 04, 2024 19:19 GMT

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Kenny Bednarek qualified for the 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics and immediately celebrated it with a Dragon Ball Z-inspired message.

Running in semifinal 2 on Sunday (August 4), Bednarek clocked 9.93 to become the eighth and final sprinter to qualify for the final at the Stade de France. Once his place was confirmed, he immediately took to social media to celebrate the news with a Dragon Ball Z animated series-inspired poster.

"Calm, cool and collected," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter)

Jamaican pair of Kishane Thompson (9.80 seconds) and Oblique Seville (9.81 seconds), and American Noah Lyles (9.83 seconds) were the three fastest sprinters across all semifinals.

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Kenny Bednarek: "I'm going to be the top dog when the gun goes off"

Kenny Bednarek at the 2024 Paris Olympics - Getty Images

Kenny Bednarek clinched the silver medal behind Andre De Grasse in the men's 200m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And he has since better his performances with every event.

Earlier this year, he clocked 19.67 seconds in 200m, a career-best time, as he geared up for the Paris Olympics. While reigning 100m and 200m world champion Noah Lyles is the man to beat in the French capital, Bednarek is not short of confidence in his abilities.

"Every single year it seems like there's always a new person around the block. Especially in the 100- and 200-metre, so many phenomenal athletes. Every single time I step on the track, I know that they're going to be working just as hard at me. And, by the time I get to the track, you know, respect for everybody else... but I'm going to be the top dog when the gun goes off," he told Olympics.com.

Bednarek will be in action in the men's 100m final on Sunday, where he will be hoping to beat the favorites and clinch a spot on the podium.

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Athletes who qualified for the men's 100m final in Paris:

1. Kishane Thompson (9.80 seconds)
2. Oblique Seville (9.81 seconds)
3. Noah Lyles (9.83 seconds)
4. Fred Kerley (9.84 seconds)
5. Akani Simbine (9.87 seconds)
6. Letsile Tebogo (9.91 seconds)
7. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (9.92 seconds)
8. Kenny Bednarek (9.93 seconds)