By Ujjwal Roy
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 18 (ANI): Kenny Bednarek, two-time Olympic silver medallist and American dash star, the International Event Ambassador for the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, expressed his pleasure at being a part of India’s premier distance working occasion, and inspired the Indian athletes to faucet into their potential.
Kenny Bednarek is among the world’s main sprinters, a double Olympic silver medallist within the males’s 200m at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and a World Championships silver medallist. A constant Diamond League performer, he holds a private better of 19.49 seconds and stays on the forefront of American sprinting on the worldwide stage.
While talking to ANI, Bednarek expressed optimism about Indian athletics, noting that some athletes are starting to search out their rhythm. He emphasised that with the correct assets and assist, India’s gifted athletes may obtain larger success, together with making finals and representing the nation on the Olympics.
‘Just a few athletes are beginning to put the items collectively, and so they have a very good group. I simply suppose that it is just a few people who find themselves lastly figuring issues out. In just a few years, you are going to have much more athletes making finals and representing on Olympic groups. Like I mentioned, it is all about having the correct assets. Lots of people on the earth have talent–India particularly has so many gifted people–but it is about ensuring you have got the correct assist to work laborious, get better, and really faucet into that potential,’ Bednarek advised ANI
Bednarek inspired athletes on the 2030 Commonwealth Games to take pleasure in themselves, characterize their nations, and benefit from the home-field benefit.
‘Just go on the market, characterize, and have enjoyable. I imply, you are on dwelling turf, so that you type of have the home-field advantage–just go and present what you are able to do,’ Bednarek advised ANI.
Speaking about what it takes to carry out on the elite degree, Bednarek underlined the significance of mindset over the whole lot else. ‘You might be bodily ready and very gifted, however in the event you’re not mentally sturdy on race day, it does not matter. Sprinting is almost 90 per cent psychological self-discipline, duty, perception and restoration are key to performing persistently on the prime degree,’ he mentioned.
Sharing his views on long-term engagement with Indian sport, Bednarek added, ‘I’m at all times open to contributing in significant methods whether or not it is by interplay, mentorship, or sharing experiences. Sport has the facility to alter lives, and if my presence right here helps assist that journey in India, I’d be proud to be a part of it.’
Bednarek attributes his profession successes to laborious work, dedication, surrounding himself with the correct individuals, staying disciplined, and persistently working towards his targets, regardless of coming from a small-town background.
‘I simply say it is a number of laborious work, dedication, and simply discovering the correct individuals round me. Coming from junior faculty, coming from a small city, simply being thrust into the highlight and working on a worldwide stage was only a huge factor. And I used to be simply lucky to search out the correct individuals. And, you recognize, I at all times have targets that I at all times need to attain, and I simply be sure to remain disciplined and do all of the issues that I must do in an effort to attain these targets,’ he mentioned.
Talking about his nickname, Kung Fu Kenny, he mentioned it displays values he strives to embody–humbleness, self-discipline, respect, and dedication–both on and off the observe.
‘Kung Fu Kenny has a set of values that characterize, which have which means to me which is humbleness, self-discipline, respect and dedication So I attempt to stay these values on and off the observe.’
When requested in regards to the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, Bednarek mentioned, ‘This is not only a race, it is a celebration. To see tens of hundreds of runners, from elite athletes, beginner runners to the first-timers, sharing the identical street is inspiring. I’m actually wanting ahead to experiencing race day up shut and cheering the runners on Sunday.’ (ANI)