This year, I feel confident about my technique, says Bednarek keen on landing gold in big events

KolkataLooking forward to his home Olympics, Los Angeles 2028, double Worlds and Olympics 200m silver medallist American sprinter ‘Kung Fu Kenny’ Bednarek is eyeing to clock 19.20 in 200m and 9.69 in 100m this year.

Bednarek, the international event ambassador of the 10th Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, is keen to land gold in big events. “I want to hit 19.3 in the 200m, 19.2. I know I have the capability to do that…Going into this year, I feel pretty confident about my technique. For the 100m, I want to see if I can crack at 9.72 or 9.69,” said Bednarek, who has personal bests of 19.57 and 9.79 in 200m and 100m respectively, here on Thursday.

On the tough competition in the men’s 200m, Bednarek said, “It’s getting very intense. Three years ago, it was just Noah (Lyles) and I. Now every year there’s somebody trying to attain that gold medal. This year it was the closest 200m final (at the Worlds) I’ve ever been in and I was happy to come out with the medal…I’m a silver surfer right now, so I definitely want to change that colour.”

Bednarek enjoyed his rivalry with compatriot Lyles. “There’s a little bit of pushing each other. They know I’m right there. I’m getting better every single year. This year was a pretty big step in my career and the next four years are going to be amazing. I’m expecting big things.”

About double Olympic medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Bednarek said, “I didn’t know who he was when he won his first one. It’s good that he represented the country, (won) the first medal, especially the gold. India has a lot of talented people, they need the right coaching, training and recovery. If you have the right setup, then everybody can (win medals).”