Kenny Bednarek has finally broken his silence following the dramatic 200m final at the US Championships, where tensions between him and Noah Lyles boiled over after a heated staredown at the finish line. Although Bednarek finished second in a blistering 19.67 seconds, just behind Lyles’ 19.63, the real drama unfolded after the race ended.
As the two sprint stars crossed the line, Bednarek was visibly irritated by Lyles’ actions, culminating in a brief physical confrontation. Bednarek later explained that he wasn’t bothered by losing the race, but rather by what he considered unsportsmanlike behavior from his teammate.
In a post-race interview, Bednarek opened up about the exchange, making it clear that he doesn’t appreciate unnecessary antics on the track. “Don’t do that to me. I don’t do any of that stuff. It’s not good character,” he stated firmly, indicating that while Lyles deserved credit for the win, his conduct crossed a line.
Despite the tension, Bednarek remained composed and reflective about his own performance. He noted that he was about 90% satisfied, citing slight fatigue from running five rounds of competition. He admitted to tightening up toward the finish but viewed his overall trials campaign as a success, especially having qualified in both sprint events.
With an eye on the future, Bednarek made it clear he’s gunning for redemption. “Noah’s going to be Noah. If he wants to stare me down, that’s fine. But I ran five rounds he was fresh. Let’s line up again when we’re both fresh and see what happens,” he said confidently. He emphasized that the next time they meet on equal footing, he believes he’ll come out on top.
The two last clashed at the Paris Olympic Games in the 200m final, where Bednarek edged out Lyles for silver while Letsile Tebogo took gold. As both sprinters gear up for future clashes, fans can expect the rivalry to intensify, with Bednarek making one thing clear he’s not backing down.
