“You’re going to be put in the freezer for a little bit as a punishment.” Before the cheers of the crowd and the glint of Olympic silver, these were the words Kenny Bednarek had to endure as a child. Years later, draped in a white pullover, sunflower in hand, and silver medal around his neck, he stood tall on the Tokyo Olympic podium. Fast forward to Paris—different pullover, different gold medalist—but the same Bednarek, once again claiming silver. Behind that consistency lies more than just speed; every finish line he crosses is a quiet triumph over a childhood shaped by struggle. And now, Kenny speaks up!
In a video posted on X by the official handle of the Grand Slam Track on May 15, 2025, Kenny Bednarek introduces himself. And we finally know the secret behind Kung-Fu Kenny. He said, “The Kung Fu Kenny came from me wearing the headband. Kung Fu has a set of values that represents which is humbleness, discipline, respect, and dedication.” In the video, he says that though he was born in Oklahoma, he tells people he is from Wisconsin. Why? Because this is where he found his family.
The athlete recalls being adopted alongside his twin brother, Ian Bednarek, at the age of four. This was all because his to-be sister Alys (Agojia) Bednarek wanted a sibling. At the age of four, their lives changed when Mary Ann Bednarek brought them home. Recalling his childhood struggles, he also talked about the first 5 – 10 years of life, calling them rough as a kid. “Being in a situation where you’re in one spot, then you go to another spot, now you don’t have your biological parents, and you’re like, who are you, you know?” Kenny says in the video.
Kenny shares how he found purpose through speed and proves it on the track.
And now? He’s not just talking the talk.
Undefeated at Kingston & Miami
Back-to-back $100K wins
9.79s (100m) | 19.84s (200m, WL)
WATCH on @thecw
STREAM on @peacock pic.twitter.com/4GQuFfcAui
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) May 15, 2025
Kenny remembers just three things from before he was adopted: being put in a freezer, a bloody nose in the middle of the night, and a brother getting rushed to the hospital. But life changed when Mary Ann Bednarek took him in. In the video, Kenny calls her a “trooper” who made sure those days were left behind.
As for Mary, she has been actively involved in Kenny’s athletic journey, often cheering him on at events. For instance, at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, Kenny recounted her cheering him, and he was trying to shush her in his mind. Cute. Talk about his track and field beginnings, the Olympian recalls being the fastest in the class and then in the school: “From elementary, that’s when I started running track. I was always the fastest kid in my class, and I eventually ended up being, you know, from the class to the school. Then I started beating everybody else in other track meets and just got to a point where I started racking up medals and medals and medals,” Kenny shared.
During his time at Greenwood Elementary School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, teachers and coaches recognized his exceptional speed. One of his elementary school teachers, Ronda Reed, recalled, “When it came to running, he was fully focused, whether it was on the playground or whether it was in P.E.” While attending Rice Lake High School in Wisconsin, Bednarek secured seven individual state titles and led his team to a 4×400-meter relay championship.
In addition to his state titles, Bednarek set a national benchmark by recording a 200-meter time of 20.43 seconds in 2018, which was the fastest high school time in the United States that year. He describes the track as the only place he feels free, the place where he has full control over the outcomes.
He even talked about his goal for Grand Slam Track. Kung FU Kenny said, “I have a grand slam goal that I don’t want anybody to beat me. I want to go on a winning streak, and I want to be the best to ever do it. I think the biggest competition is me. If I just focus on my technique and what I’ve been doing at training, I don’t think anybody’s going to beat me this year.” Looking at his first two Grand Slam Tracks, he is already on his way to it.
Kenny Bednarek’s undefeated Streak in Grand Slam Track
In the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica, Kenny Bednarek electrified the crowd with his commanding performances. In the 100 meters, he edged out Jamaica’s Oblique Seville by a mere hundredth of a second, clocking 10.07 seconds to Seville’s 10.08. The following day, Bednarek dominated the 200 meters, finishing in 20.07 seconds, well ahead of Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and fellow American Fred Kerley. These victories not only secured him the maximum 24 points in the men’s short sprints category but also earned him a $100,000 prize, setting a top bar for the series.
Continuing his streak at the Miami meet, Bednarek showcased his sprinting prowess once again. He won the 100 meters with a wind-assisted 9.79 seconds, outpacing competitors like Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake. In the 200 meters, he delivered a world-leading time of 19.84 seconds, finishing nearly three-tenths of a second ahead of Hughes and Seville. These back-to-back victories not only reinforced his dominance in the short sprints but also added another $100,000 to his earnings, solidifying his position as a leading contender in the Grand Slam Track series.
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The post Recalling Struggles as an Adopted Kid, Kenny Bednarek Reveals the Goal Behind Grand Slam Track’s Third Leg After Bagging $200K appeared first on EssentiallySports.
