‘Kung Fu Kenny’ takes on “a life of its own”
The aforementioned breath work is part of an evolving Bednarek who has tried to chart his own course in the crowded world of athletics. While Lyles has cut a fashion-forward, headline-grabbing figure both on and off the track, Bednarek is quieter in nature, and has leaned into that.
In 2021, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, he adopted the nickname “Kung Fu Kenny,” donning a headband for most of his races and identifying with the moniker and its layered meanings on social media and in interviews.
“I just wanted to stand out in my own way,” Bednarek explained.
“I wanted to differentiate myself by wearing the headband because I’m a big anime lover. And the headband, it has a set of values that pertain to me, which is: Humbleness, discipline, respect, and dedication. And I just want to live those values on and off the track.”
Tokyo 25 marks a return for the athletics world to Japan’s National Stadium, which was built for the Tokyo 2020 Games but stood empty in 2021, when no fans were allowed to attend the competition.
It’s one of Bednarek’s most favourite places in the world, he says, in part because of the anime, the Japanese ramen, Sumo wrestling and other unique aspects of the country and its culture.
The World Championships offer a full-circle moment for “Kung Fu Kenny:” Since 2021, the nickname “took on a life of its own,” Bednarek laughed. “And yeah, I enjoy it.”