The American speedster Kenny Bednarek has been nothing short of unstoppable this season, dominating the inaugural Grand Slam Track (GST) series and leaving his rivals trailing in his wake.
But while his blistering times and fat prize checks have made headlines, it’s the mental transformation behind the scenes that might just give him the edge in his biggest race yet, a head-to-head showdown with Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in Eugene.
A Season of Mastery and Money
Bednarek’s GST campaign has been the stuff of sprinting dreams. Clean sweeps in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Philadelphia saw him pocket the maximum prize money at each meet, a cool $100,000 apiece, adding up to a staggering $300,000 haul.
More importantly, he collected all 24 points on offer at every stop, making a statement, Kenny Bednarek is not just back; he’s better than ever.
Bednarek recently revealed in a candid YouTube interview with Track World News that it’s been a shift in mindset that’s truly unlocked his potential.
The Battle Between Impulse and Discipline
In his earlier professional years, Bednarek admitted to letting adrenaline dictate his races.
“There would be times where I was just like, ‘You know what? As soon as the gun goes off, we’re just going to do whatever,’” he confessed.
That all changed at the end of last season. Now, Bednarek approaches his races with ice-cold focus and unwavering discipline.
“I feel like I honed in on just sticking with the plan,” he shared. .
“I don’t listen to anything,” he explained of his meet-day ritual.
“I just vibe, stretch, stay calm… and then as soon as the gun goes off, I just execute my race.”
A Rivalry Rekindled
That mental shift will be put to its toughest test yet on July 5 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the Wanda Diamond League Final, when Bednarek takes on Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo in a blockbuster men’s 200m showdown.
The pair lit up the track circuit in 2024, trading victories on some of the sport’s biggest stages. Tebogo stormed to five Diamond League wins and captured Olympic gold in Paris with a stunning 19.46 personal best. Bednarek was hot on his heels, claiming silver in Paris with 19.62, before turning the tables in Brussels with a decisive 19.67 to clinch his second career Diamond Trophy.
Now, with both sprinters in peak form, Eugene promises another epic chapter in their rivalry. Hayward Field has been kind to Bednarek in the past, three of his ten fastest career times have come on that track, but Tebogo enters as the man to beat, riding the momentum of his Olympic triumph.
Fans and analysts alike are bracing for fireworks in Eugene.
