For a while now, Kenny Bednarek’s name hasn’t exactly been front and center in the sprinting spotlight. With all eyes glued to Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, and the ever-growing list of rising stars, Bednarek often found himself overlooked, brushed aside by fans chasing flashier names. But after his outstanding performance at Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, where he established his dominance in the 100m category by outrunning Jamaican Oblique Seville by a hundredth of a second, finishing first at 10.07 seconds. Should the track world brace itself for Kung Fu Kenny’s resurgence? Olympian Justin Gatlin certainly displayed his deep faith in Bednarek’s abilities.
Gatlin didn’t just give a nod of approval; he gave Kenny Bednarek his flowers, mic drop and all. On the Ready Set Go YouTube podcast, led by Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, they discussed the performance of the two-time Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek at the inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica. On April 6, Bednarek made a statement by winning the 100m and 200m, clocking 20.07 seconds in the 200m, with Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes finishing second, 0.30 seconds behind, and Fred Kerley securing third at 20.39s
Rodney Green was quick to praise Bednarek’s fearlessness, saying, “Kenny Bednarek “Kung Fu Kenny” came through with the hat trick: the 100 and the 200, letting people know, ‘Boy, hey, I ain’t scared, man!’” Green also mentioned Bednarek’s distinct style, calling out his “drip” and the way he had a case for his bandana. And you thought only Noah Lyles got the ‘drip’! Talk about making a statement on and off track!
Justin Gatlin did not hold himself back when showering praises “Kenny understood the assignment from beginning to end on the track, off the track.” Gatlin went on to explain how Bednarek stood out at the Grand Slam, not just for his athletic performance, but also his off-track presence. “He came through dressed down, and he had his photographer with him, dressed in all black with a mask on, holding a bulletproof case. And in that case was the Kenny Bednarek headband—the official one he rolled out for Grand Slam.”. The grand entry of Bednarek wasn’t just empty noise, he justified the pomp and the extravaganza by an equally enthralling presence on track. You could tell this man had perseverance and had been neck deep in Grand Slam Track prep.
In the same podcast, Gatlin explained that Bednarek used to send him videos to review after he refined his starts. “He was sending his videos like, ‘Hey man, how’s that start look? I’m looking—I feel good, man. I feel good about it.” According to Gatlin, the most important thing was maintaining start consistency. Bednarek encountered a slight stumble at the start but completed his transition to fast sprinting perfectly. Gatlin concluded his discussion by stating, “It couldn’t be any better at this point in the season. He came away with the victory, and he worked hard for it.”
Kenny Bednarek secured both victory at Grand Slam Track and a $100,000 cash prize while making sure media attention fell directly on him. People attending the event were there to witness Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, and Sha’Carri Richardson perform, but they did not show up. With Kenny taking control, he provided entertainment to the spectators despite other performers dropping out. But the question comes, why did the others skip GST?
All that money, still no Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson. Here’s why
The new Grand Slam Track league had all the glitz—$12.6 million in prize money, guaranteed base salaries, and a plan to revolutionize the sport. The debut meet in Jamaica was loaded with speed, but two of the biggest names in U.S. sprinting were nowhere to be found: Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. For a league banking on star power, that absence raised eyebrows. So what gives?
For Sha’Carri, it came down to focus. She’s been locked in on her international schedule—World Athletics meets, Diamond League, and of course, Olympic prep. Sources say she turned down the GST offer to avoid overloading her calendar or risking injury. The league doesn’t offer ranking points yet, so for athletes chasing medals and legacy, GST just didn’t move the needle. The prize money was enticing, but the risk-reward balance wasn’t in her favor. Sha’Carri’s been through enough to know when to say no.
Noah, on the other hand, had a few more thoughts—and he didn’t hold back. On his Beyond The Records podcast, he said the whole thing felt rushed. “I haven’t seen a commercial… where’s the one that gives me the storylines?” He questioned the marketing, the lack of sponsors, and whether the league was truly athlete-centered. “Money is not the thing that’s going to drive me every time,” he said. He also raised red flags about the league’s financial transparency and long-term vision. For someone vocal about growing the track’s global appeal, Lyles didn’t see the rollout matching the ambition. But the likes of Kenny Bednarek and Gabby Thomas made it worth watching.
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