We catch up with sprinter Kenny Bednarek and learn about his Paris 2024 experience running the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. He did bring home some hardware, but also had many learning experiences (and we’re not just talking about dealing with the lack of A/C in Paris). We also look ahead to Kenny’s 2025 season and how he’s preparing for the 2025 World Athletics’ World Championships.
Be sure to watch Kenny’s documentary series Road to Gold on YouTube. Also check out his website and follow him on Insta and X.
Also on this episode:
- IT’s the vibe, says Milan-Cortina 2026
- The Milan-Cortina 2026 coin collection is out
- The “Sabataggio” installment of the Slidingnovela
- Potential sports for French Alps 2030
- An exciting hire for Brisbane 2032 (that devastates Alison)
- Leadership announcements for SLC 2034
- New and continuing sponsors at the IOC – TBach is excited about them!
- News from TKFLASTAN
Thank you to our ongoing contributors and patrons! This show thrives because of our listeners. Want to give back? Learn more here.
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
TRANSCRIPT
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380-Kenny Bednarek’s Paris Olympics
Jill Jaracz: Hello, and welcome to another episode of Keep the Flame Alive, the podcast for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics. If you love the games, we are the show for you. Each week, we share stories from athletes and people behind the scenes to help you have more fun watching the games. I’m your host, Jill Jill Jaracz, joined as always by my lovely co host, Alison Brown.
Alison, hello, how are you?
Alison Brown: I finished watching Four Nations, then moved on to Four Continents. Listener Meredith told me about dress drama in the skating world. I have been having a week. Whoa,
Jill Jaracz: wait, what is dress drama?
Alison Brown: Well, without naming names, one of the top skaters was accused of stealing the design of another person’s dress.
I did not know this was a thing. Apparently, it’s a thing.
Jill Jaracz: Whoa,
Alison Brown: we talk about it in the Facebook group. So keep the flame alive podcast in Facebook. You will learn more about dress drama
Jill Jaracz: Yes, and lots of other stuff because the Facebook group is hopping even if the cauldron is not lit So do check that out.
Keep the flame alive podcast group on Facebook.
Kenny Bednarek Interview
Jill Jaracz: All right today One of my favorites. Kung Fu Kenny, is that right? Today we are checking in with sprinter Kenny Bednarek at Paris 2024.
He won his second silver medal in the 200 meters, repeating from Tokyo 2020. He also competed in the 100 meters finishing at seventh and with Team USA finished eighth in the men’s four by 100 meter relay. we do get in the drama surrounding that race. We talked with Kenny a few months ago. It’s been since was it October?
Was it December?
Alison Brown: It was December.
Jill Jaracz: It was December. So we talked with Kenny in December, that’s right, and, got the lowdown on his Paris experience and what he’s working on next.
As a reminder of some of the other athletes we talk about in this interview, for the 100 meters, gold went to Noah Lyles of the U. S., silver went to Kashane Thompson of Jamaica, and bronze went to Fred Kerley from the U. S. A. For the, 200 meters, gold went to Lecile Tobogo from Botswana, Kenny won silver, and Noah Lyles won the bronze.
And then the men’s 4×100 relay team for the U. S. was Christian Coleman, Kenny, Kareem King, Fred Curley, and then Courtney Lindsey. Take a listen.
Welcome back.
Kenny Bednarek: I’m glad to be back.
Jill Jaracz: Oh, thank you. Olympics number two under your belt. you qualified for more events this time around?
Kenny Bednarek: Yeah.
Kenny’s Olympic year
Jill Jaracz: How were you going into Paris and how was it? Different from Tokyo in terms of competition level?
Kenny Bednarek: I felt very confident, in the beginning of the year. You know, I had the goals that I wanted to set, which was to make all three, uh, teams, and that’s what I did.
you know, that just the satisfaction of having the goal and then accomplishing it and then, uh, you know, having another goal, getting into the Olympics and, trying to come out with three gold medals. Uh, It was fun. Like I said, I just came into the games confident and, you know, all the work I put in beforehand told me I could get the job done.
you know, I was a little short of what I wanted to do, but like overall, like, I think this Olympic is pretty, uh, satisfying for me.
Kenny’s take on the Paris 2024 track
Jill Jaracz: How was the track itself performance wise?
Kenny Bednarek: Oh, the track, it’s, it was very nice. So we didn’t get the chance to see the track until like the first day of the race. I know they had an opportunity for some of us to like check it.
I think the day before, but I was, busy with something else. So. You know, the first round is when it was, it was the first time I got to actually step on and feel it out. And yeah, I mean, it was beautiful. Uh, the stands and seeing all the people there, it was beautiful. And yeah, it was definitely fast track.
I mean, the moment, the moment I took the first step after the gun went off, it was just like, okay, yeah, this is, this is a nice one.
Alison Brown: The atmosphere was pretty electric. Yeah,
Kenny Bednarek: I mean, that’s, that was the biggest difference, from Tokyo, just having the fans there, having my mom there, girlfriend, loved ones, just every day, everyone, uh, that was there to support me.
And I think that was the most important thing that, that came out of it for me was just to have my family there to actually just witness, me shining bright for them and representing the country. And then my, you know, my hometown, Tokyo was just weird. You know, we had the stress of testing every single day, trying to see if we tested positive or negative for COVID.
And then on top of that, there was nobody there, you know, it’s, it’s, you know, one of the biggest races of your life. And then you got no one really there to watch it. I mean, you have people watching on TV, but it’s a different feeling when you actually have a, crowd full, to the brim and then just having everybody cheering your name and yeah.
Paris 2024-Men’s 100m breakdown
Jill Jaracz: Let’s start with the 100. Early rounds of the a hundred meter were in the rain. So how does that affect things if it affects things?
Kenny Bednarek: I mean, the track is going to be a little bit, uh, more sleek, slippier, but for me, it’s not really a big difference. It’s just making sure that I, uh, It’ll stay focused and have that tunnel vision and. You know, just anticipate the gun and go and execute the race that I know how. like I said, for me, it just wasn’t that big of a deal.
I mean, I train in the rain. It rains in Florida every single, pretty much every single day, it seems, when it’s in the summer. So, I’m used to that environment. I’m one of those athletes where I kind of just adapt to the situation. So, whether it’s cold or it’s raining, snowing, like, uh, You know, I’ll figure it out.
Jill Jaracz: How do you plan the strategy for each round? Because you don’t wanna blow everything in the first round yet. The talent is just incredible at that level.
Kenny Bednarek: so me and my coach’s game plan is just making sure to conserve as much energy as we can until the finals, just to kind let it rip. so yeah, just going through the first round, it’s just.
Basically taking charge and just lay, lay, like, just feeling it out, kind of seeing where everybody else is at, and if they’re allowing me to run something slower than, 9.9, then I’ll take it, kind of thing. So that’s just the game plan for, uh, the semifinals, prelims. Just making sure just to conserve as much energy as possible, and then. when finals come, let’s just let it rip and see what happens. and I think going into trials, we did a good job.
And then going into Olympics, uh, we did a pretty good job as well. you know, sometimes when you, like, we’re still on the 100, but I’m gonna go to the 200 right now. But after doing all the rounds, and then having to run the 200 after the finals for the 100, I kind of was a little annoyed because one of the athletes wanted to, uh, Let it rip, I guess.
And I had to run 19, I think it was like 1999 or something like that. And physically I could do it, but it was more of the mental side was kind of like, dang, I wish I could have chilled a little bit. so I was a little annoyed about that, but then I was like, you know, it’s Olympics, everyone, everyone here and there is always going to want to, uh, do something crazy in the first round.
They kind of cement, like who’s the top dog at that day. kind of just depends on who’s in the field. if they kind of let me get away with running, 10 flat and winning my heat, then I’ll take it. But if I have to run something a little bit faster than that, then I’m kind of like, okay, I didn’t want to do that, but it is what it is.
And then I was saying that’s what happened in the 200, with Ogondo, like he wanted to, I guess, let it rip a little bit. And after doing three rounds for the 100, like, okay, let me recover a little bit because we’re running back to back days. And I had to run like 19. 99, and physically I could do it, but mentally I was kind of like, I kind of wish I could, you know, let off the gas a little bit.
Uh, but everything worked out.
Jill Jaracz: the 100, you made the finals on time. how was the waiting game for that? Oh,
Kenny Bednarek: that’s stressful. That’s, that’s a, that’s a spot I never want to be in again. honestly, like I said, this was my first, Major championships being in the hundreds. So I guess in a way I kind of underestimated the field, because I was kind of going off of what people was running leading up to the Olympics.
So I was like, I kind of had an idea what people were going to do, but then once it’s the Olympic games and, you know, people just flip a switch and. They bring something out of them that you didn’t think was there. so I guess in a way, like when I, the gun started, I had an okay start, but I thought I would get away with kind of not trying to, uh, go all out, but that wasn’t the case.
And then yeah, just waiting there was just stressful. Cause I was kind of like, did I blow it? Like, Oh, I should have done this. I should have done that. And then watching the other race go on and finally hearing my name, like I made it, I was like, okay, thank God, like, let me, let me, let me reset and then, um, you know, get into the finals.
Jill Jaracz: So walk us through the finals. How are you feeling?
Kenny Bednarek: Oh, I mean, like I said, uh, got to the finals. I feel confident. you know, I knew that everybody was going to bring their A game and I had, you know, with my lane draw, I was at a disadvantage, I would say. Yeah. but, you know, I had to kind of go off of what Fred and, Kashane was doing.
And, I think I had a pretty good start, I mean, time wise, like, you know, ran 9. 88. So, I think just execution wise, I should have done a little bit better. because when it’s the finals, especially in the Olympics, you want to be, you know, the fastest human on the planet. And I was in a good spot. I feel like I 40 to 50 meters, but then after that, you know, I just kind of lost track of what I was doing and I tried to do too much and that’s where I started to tighten up a little bit.
And, that’s one thing that Noah is, he’s one of the best at doing is making sure just to stay with him, uh, stay with his technique and that usually, you know, it gets him the medals and, that’s something I’m still trying to learn. And. initially kind of after the whole ordeal, I was upset, but then just kind of seeing the history, I’m like, Hey, this is the fastest hundred meter finals that’s happened in like years.
And then just looking at the previous finals before running, you know, nine 88, that would have made me get a bronze medal, the past two Olympics. So, like I said, just getting my win where I can get it. but yeah, I mean, like I said, it’s not what I wanted, wanted, but I took some good lessons from it.
And I think this year and then the next Olympics is going to be pretty good.
Alison Brown: The Olympic 100 is kind of that marquee event where they talk about the fastest human on the planet. Yeah. What surprised you about being in that final just in terms of how you felt and what was happening?
Kenny Bednarek: I guess it’s just, like for me, it was just a normal race, but then it’s just kind of getting up to the finals.
Just, you know, the lights, the action, like how much stock people put into it. I was kind of like, Oh, wow. Like this is a bigger deal than it really is. And, I said, just a lot of people bring things out of them that, like, I didn’t think a lot of the guys had it in them. I would say this year, just because of what I’ve seen previous years.
So yeah, just with the whole thing, like I was just surprised at how fast everybody ran. Like, I thought there was only going to be a couple, but everybody ran, under, you know, nine, nine, nine, except for, uh, oblique. But I think he ended up having a little pull in his groin. But yeah, I mean, that, that race was fast.
So it’s like, like, now I know what to expect. Like I said, it was my, it was my first time being at this stage.
Jill Jaracz: one other question I have with the a hundred meters is. You got an inside lane, which means you were out on the track for everybody else’s introduction. What is that like? And I will, I will say, you know, and with Noah Lyles bounding halfway down the track, doing his thing.
Kenny Bednarek: I mean, I just focus on myself. I mean, everybody is going to have their thing that they do, to hype the crowd up or to build their confidence. But, like I said, for me, it’s just trying to stay focused. and then I saw everybody else get out, get their introductions. Um, and that’s that for me, it was just more so just waiting.
And, uh, I didn’t expect us to wait that long. because in a way, like I got out there, everybody did their introduction and he had the music playing and then it kind of prolonged and I was kind of like, are we going to go yet? And. That’s, I guess, in a ways where I kind of lost focus and then, you know, are you ready?
And that’s okay. I gotta, you know, get back into my, uh, zone. but usually when it comes to just everybody else doing their things, their antics, like, no, he’s, he’s always going to be like that. He’s going to jump around and gauge. you know, he kind of feeds off the energy, but for me, you know, I’m just, I’m just chilling, you know,
Paris 2024-Men’s 200m breakdown
Jill Jaracz: 200 meter going into finals first weird lane assignment situation going on.
What happened and how did that affect you mentally if it did?
Kenny Bednarek: I wouldn’t say it mentally affected me at all, but, uh, it was just an initial land draw. It just didn’t make sense. you know, they, uh, made sure to tell us what to expect when it came to who gets what when they win their heat. So for me, it was just a simple fact of like, Hey, you guys told us what this is supposed to look like when, we, you know, do this in the, in the race.
So why am I seeing something different? And, um, you know, I just wanted them to follow their own rules that they put up. so initially, I mean, if you guys saw, I had lane four, which made no sense cause I won my heat and on top of that, I was the second fastest time, going into the finals. So when you look at it, like either way, it just didn’t make any sense because Ogondo had late eight and they ended up switching me and him.
But then in a way that kind of didn’t make sense, but I was like, it’s better than being in lane for, Because sometimes, like, that can screw up your race plan. I mean, for me, I tend to just, you know, focus on myself, but then sometimes I might get a little too excited where, hey, I have everybody in front of me and I’m going to try to run all you guys down.
which I’ve tried to done that in the past before and it doesn’t work. So I’m the type of athlete was like, okay, just put me in the middle or put me up front. I’ll be good. but yeah, like I said, it was just more of the fact that it’s like, how did I get this lane draw when I won my heat? that doesn’t make any sense.
so I know a lot of people thought I was complaining, but there’s a lot of people that just didn’t understand what was actually going on. So that’s why I went, you know, and said, Hey, there’s a lot of favoritism going here because either way you look at it, it just doesn’t make any sense.
Jill Jaracz: Walk us through that final.
Kenny Bednarek: I mean, it was, I was ready, zoned in. And as soon as the gun went off, I had a pretty good turn and, Tobogo kind of caught me, I would say at 120 mark. And by then it was just kind of making sure not to do too much. I just kind of focused on myself and make sure that I don’t, strain. And I mean, all I can say about that race is that wasn’t my best race, but.
You know, I still came out with the silver medal and I was happy about that performance just because, you know, the previous year at world champs, I, I didn’t make the pony at all. so yeah, just coming out with the silver medal, being able to, you know, to show everybody that I can, I can run fast again at the biggest stage, you know, running 1962 was a pretty good thing to see, especially with all the rounds underneath my legs.
yeah, I was just more happy to have my mom there and she was able to see me cross the finish line second. but yeah, like I said, it’s so far as like the last two Olympics been close, but somebody else has gotten it. So, third time’s a charm. Like I’m not going to let that happen again, but.
Overall, I was satisfied with it.
Jill Jaracz: Silver medal’s the prettiest one.
Kenny Bednarek: Oh, thanks.
Alison Brown: I wish people could see your face, because when Jill asked you the question about breaking down the 200, there was a little shadow that came into your eyes, like, Oh, I know, like, oh, I gotta do this.
Jill Jaracz: Yeah, we gotta talk about it. But, I mean, like, but, but, I’m gonna say what’s his name, because I can’t remember the man’s name from, Botswana. Uh,
Kenny Bednarek: Tobogo.
Jill Jaracz: Yeah, he had potential extra fuel of, his mom died.
Which is very sad, but that can be a real motivator in ways that you’d never get any other year. Yeah,
Kenny Bednarek: for sure. I mean, that’s how I looked at it, too. It was like, you know, when you’re in a situation like that where a family member or a parent dies, it’s like either you’re gonna let it consume you or you’re gonna use it as motivation.
He used it as motivation. so like I said, when I crossed the finish line, I was kind of like, ah, like, come on, because it was kind of the same thing that happened in Tokyo. But then, um, you know, I gave him his props because I know he’s, he’s been through a lot and, yeah, like I was happy for him.
Kenny’s mom making appearances
Alison Brown: Speaking of moms, your mom became a little bit of a star. Oh, your mom’s made a lot of appearances. How’s that going?
Kenny Bednarek: It’s pretty good. I mean, she’s not used to it. So we did something for, uh, adoption, Dave Thomas foundation. And that was like one of her first big, speaking things that she’s done, like interviews or interviews.
Engagements, I guess. I mean, she’s she was nervous. So she’s never been in front of a stage of, you know, over 2000 people. It’s talking about her life, my life, but yeah, with that, and I think she made an appearance on Sprint as well. So, yeah, she’s, she’s becoming a little rock star right now. But, you gotta, you know, give her the love with what she’s done with me and my brothers and sisters.
you know, being able to do all that by herself. four kids, all of us adopted, different backgrounds, I think it’s a pretty amazing accomplishment that she did.
Kenny on Netflix’s “Sprint”
Jill Jaracz: How was being in Sprint? And how did having cameras follow you for a portion of Paris? How was that added element to what you were working on?
Kenny Bednarek: it wasn’t too bad. I mean, they made sure not to, uh, do too much, like, you know, get in the way and all that stuff. So, like, we were doing training there on the side.
Talking about whatever, like he’s just pretty much going to act like they’re not there. I mean, there are good people too. So, I mean, I was engaging and having conversations about other things. but I think they did a pretty good job with the limited time that they had. I mean, well, it was only four episodes and so many athletes, you know, that you gotta try to put some product together and I think they did a pretty good job.
I feel like with my story, they, I think they did the best just because you kind of had a little deep dive into my background, you know, my mom, and then just kind of seeing my family.
yeah, I mean, I had no complaints. but yeah, like, uh, I mean, there’s a lot more. Film that they took, but they couldn’t, put it together. So, you know, I’m hoping that, you know, they do another one for, let’s say this year’s worlds and they can add a little bit more episodes. You have a more in depth of everybody’s background and stuff like that.
Paris 2024: Men’s 4x100m relay
Jill Jaracz: Four by 100. You had, I know this is tough. I hate end with this. Earlier in the year, you had this amazing relay in Bahamas, and then, Courtney Lindsey just ran the heats in Paris, Noah is out with COVID, how was you had like four guys who had practiced together a long time, and then now you’ve got some change ups in the lineup, how does that work, and, and, Especially now that you also have a Team USA’s relay coach in the mix as well. how does that affect what happens on the track? Cause now you’re getting a handout from somebody you may not have practiced with that much.
Kenny Bednarek: I mean, a difficult situation. you know, initially what you guys saw in, um, World Relays, that’s the ideal situation we wanted, like me and a few of the other guys, but, you know, other people end up deserving a certain spot after trial.
So that’s when things get a little tricky. You. and then also you got parts where like, Hey, I want to take this spot. You can have that spot. And then that person wants that same spot as you. So just trying to put the puzzle together and making everything just, you know, stick and, you know, with Noah’s last minute, COVID situation and kind of.
That’s things up a little bit, but I mean, we all felt pretty confident with what we were putting out there. I mean, I only had pretty much, 1 to 2 days of practice. well, I had more than that, but I was in a different spot before and then we, you know, we switched me over to a different spot last 2nd and I’ve been in that spot before.
But again, you have different pieces and I haven’t. You know, I didn’t get an opportunity to, uh, train with Coleman that long. but regardless of all that, you know, we all felt pretty confident about the situation and, things just happened. That’s all I can really say. you know, I should have done better on my part and everyone else, you know, we could have done a little bit better, but, know, just, uh, just a learning experience and what kind of made it worse for me is just knowing the history of the relay for the Olympics, especially, and.
you know, I don’t like being a part of that history, like the bad part. but I think we’re going to figure it out. that’s all I can really say, you know, mistakes were made, lessons were learned and we’re going to be better for, next time we go up there and try to conquer the world.
Kenny Bednarek on life after Paris 2024
Alison Brown: On a brighter note, since Paris. Things have been going pretty well.
Kenny Bednarek: Oh, yeah.
Alison Brown: So, how do you go right back to racing, right after the Olympics? I mean, it was pretty quick for you.
Kenny Bednarek: Uh, yeah, I mean Shoot, last time I did that was in 21 and I was a little bit younger. so this time it was just, I got really sick right after I got back home.
And I didn’t realize I was sick until later, but I don’t know what exactly I was sick with, but I think it’s just with the whole ordeal with running six races, and a relay, and then just the travel. It was food situation, a lot of stress, and then you go home, long flight back home. You always, people tend to always catch something.
So originally, I, I ended up going to Poland and, you know, I wanted to go out there because my last name is Polish and I wanted to bring my mom out there as well, but everything was like last minute and I talked to the meat director at the Olympics and he was like, Oh, you want to come to Poland?
And I was like, no, because it’s going to, I’ll like have two weeks and then I’m going to be right back out here. And I knew like mentally and physically, I was going to need a little bit of break, but I ended up going anyways and, you know, I had some fun and, mentally, I was tapped in after, you know, after I got better from my sickness, I was like ready to go and everything, but physically, I was just kind of like, this is like during the race, like, physically, I felt good, I practiced, pre meet, all that stuff, and as soon as the gun went off, Kyrie, he’s my teammate, but we laugh about it because it’s kind of a situation where there’s like ain’t nothing you can do about it.
but I got out of that turn first like I usually do and in my head I was like, Oh, I’m feeling pretty good. And then by like 1. 30 to 1. 40, then my legs just stopped working. And then I see, uh, Tobogo in, uh, Uganda go by. So I was like, Oh, I’m actually cooked. Like, I don’t have juice at all. So that usually tends to happen to all of us when we run a race, like right after.
Because like, it’s not really that ideal, like we’re doing so much within a week to a week and a half and then trying to go out there to a diamond league or world continental, right? Like, pretty much back to back. It’s just hard on the body. but then after that, you know, I bounced right back. went to, uh.
Zurich, and we’re in a PB in the cold weather. So that was pretty cool. Um, and then, you know, I finally ended the season on a good note with, uh, the Diamond League trophy. And it’s kind of the same situation where it was very chilly. but apparently I tend to run a lot faster or more relaxed when it’s cold weather.
But I think that’s my Wisconsin roots.
Do sprinters run distance?
Jill Jaracz: we had a question, when we were talking with ourselves. If sprinters ever like running longer distance, just for fun, do you ever go out and run a mile?
Kenny Bednarek: Uh, it’s been a long, no.
Jill Jaracz: We were talking about Amos Attapec, the long distance runner. We’re like, well, do sprinters, everyone’s like, Oh, they’re the greatest runners in the world.
And we’re like, well, sprinters got it.
Kenny Bednarek: I think get
Jill Jaracz: some love too.
Kenny Bednarek: I would be cool with running like long distance. If, There’s like obstacles. Like I’ve done, uh, uh, what’s it called?
Jill Jaracz: Ninja warrior type stuff.
Kenny Bednarek: Yeah. Some ninja warrior mud runs. Yeah. Mud runs. So, my physio, who’s my friend, like he ended up taking me and my girlfriend out to one, I think two years ago.
oh, it was actually called the savage race. That’s what it’s called. So we went to it and I forgot how long ago, but it was like longer than a mile. And, It was pretty fun, you know, just jumping over obstacles and, having to be on ropes and everything and just get over it. And we went into the mud and everything.
So it was pretty cool. But I think if you just asked me to run a mile, I’m going to, I’m probably going to ask you, is it a bet? Like you’ve got to bet money or something because, we, me and Kyrie, like I said, he’s my teammate. We did that this year where like I had no clue that this was going to happen and I just ended up going to practice and then everybody was held up talking about something else.
It’s like, what’s going on? They’re like, oh, we’re making a bet to see if we can run under, you know, 6 minutes for a mile. I was like, oh, can I join? So, uh, that’s the only time I ran a mile just to see if I could do it. But like I said, there’s got to be some, there’s got to be something like, you got to give me a reward if I’m running a mile.
Jill Jaracz: How’d you do? Did you win the bet?
Kenny Bednarek: Yeah, we won. Yeah, we did pretty good. Like, we were just right under. And I, and we didn’t actually stretch or anything, so I was like, okay, I’m actually proud of myself because I just woke up out of bed and ran under a six minute mile. I was like, if I actually warmed up, stretched, then the time would have gone down a lot lower.
I think as of right now, I probably can run like 530. Just
Alison Brown: 530 like it’s nothing.
Kenny Bednarek: Yeah, well, I have the, cross country background as well, so that’s, I used to do that when I was younger.
Jill Jaracz: Okay,
Kenny Bednarek on the Paris 2024 Olympic Village
Jill Jaracz: Did you have the chocolate muffin
Kenny Bednarek: the chocolate muffin
Jill Jaracz: the chocolate muffin from paris the famous chocolate paris muffin in the village Do you even stay in the village?
Kenny Bednarek: I did stay in the village. My girlfriend said I should have stayed outside.
A little bit more difficult, just cause I was getting, uh, my physio, he was helping like give me the food that I needed. We, we bought a bunch of groceries, he would cook it for me and just getting to the village was a very hectic. but yeah, I, no, I did not have that muffin. I didn’t actually eat that much at the, the village just because well, to me, I think the food was terrible. Uh, the first day I think it was okay, then the second day I was like, okay, I can’t do this anymore. So I ordered every single day or I had food that was made for me outside.
Kenny Bednarek’s favorite Parisian souvenir
Jill Jaracz: Besides the medal, what’s your favorite souvenir from Paris?
Kenny Bednarek: What was it? Shoot. I forgot what we brought.
I don’t know if I did get a souvenir. I’m not sure. I don’t think I grabbed one because I’ve been to Paris before so, I mean the last time I was there I went to the Eiffel Tower, but I think, I wouldn’t say souvenir, but the cool thing that I like going to is the Louvre, But I only went there pretty much, I, me and one of my teammates went in there looking for the Mona Lisa. That was the only thing we cared about. I was like, where is it? Where is it? So we like went all over the place and then we finally found it. And then I was like, why is it so small?
Alison Brown: It only looks small compared to you, Kenny. That’s. Yeah.
Kenny Bednarek: Well, I, when you’re watching, when you’re watching movies or you see it on television, you’re always kind of like, it’s like bigger than it really is. But even the Eiffel tower, not the Eiffel, but I would say, uh. Statue of Liberty, when I first saw it, I was kind of the same thing.
It’s like, Oh, I thought it was bigger, but that’s when I, I’ve only seen it on TV. So I always thought it was like humongous.
Alison Brown: I’ll stand next to things and give you better scale.
Kenny Bednarek: Okay. Yeah, that’d be better. But yeah, yeah, Paris, the sun, had some good food, had some good pizza. And yeah, I got had a really good time out there. It was just very, very hot. the one time I did stay out the village, it was the hottest day and there was no AC. So I was, I was waking up like every hour. So I was miserable. And then I was like, I can’t do this again. So I went back to the village, so they had, you know, a little bit of AC there.
Jill Jaracz: We hear you. we had heat problems too. It was not fun. It was not fun.
Kenny Bednarek looks ahead to the 2025 World Championships
Jill Jaracz: You’re going into a world champs year. You’ve started training already. What are you looking forward to?
Kenny Bednarek: Ooh.
Jill Jaracz: Goals. What are your goals?
Kenny Bednarek: I’m ready to right my wrongs and finally get me some gold medals. Break some records. That’s what I’m looking for this year.
last year, well technically this year, you know, I stayed healthy. And I’ve always told people, like, a healthy me is a dangerous me. Because I’ve always known what I was capable of doing. it’s just a matter of just putting it together and, like I said, just making that progress every single year to get faster and faster.
so running 19. 5, like, at the end of the season, it started to feel easier. So now I know, like, hey, I can just hit this whenever I want to. And this year, I’m just trying to make a big jump. you know, I’m trying to get some gold medals and be unbeatable. Same thing, I want, to be in the 100, the 2, and the 4×1.
Because I still got to prove myself in that 4×1, you know?
But yeah, training’s been going well. Right now we’re just doing a little long distance stuff in the grass, so it’s kicking our butt. I’m always tired every single day, so, you know, back to the grind.
Jill Jaracz: Wait, so what is long distance for you? Is that like a 400?
Kenny Bednarek: Like a 500. That’s the longest thing we do right now.
oh, the other thing is, if we go to the year after, in 2026, I want to see what I can do in the 400 because I haven’t ran it in a while. So, I’ve been telling my coach to like, let me train for it. And that’s the only time I can’t do it because technically we don’t have anything that year besides a Ultimate Championship and that’s not mandatory.
And I was like, even if If I go, I was like, maybe I can go there and run the 400 and see, I got 44. 7. So, and I ran that in college. So I was like, I’m faster now. So now I just got to build that statement. Let’s see if I can hit a 43.
Jill Jaracz: Very nice. We will be looking for that in a couple of years.
Yeah.
Kenny Bednarek: Yeah, I’m gonna convince my coach.
Jill Jaracz: You can do it. Oh dangerous Kenny, you’re putting me in coach
Kenny Bednarek: Honestly
Jill Jaracz: Excellent. Kenny, thank you so much for coming back and talking with us. We really appreciate it. It’s always fun talking with you. Thanks for
Alison Brown: having me back. I love, I
Kenny Bednarek: love it.
Jill Jaracz: Thank you so much, Kenny. Kenny’s documentary series Road to Gold is now available on YouTube. We’ll have a link to that in the show notes. You can learn more about him at KennyBednarek. com and on Insta and X. He is at Kenny underscore Bednarek
Milan-Cortina 2026 News
Jill Jaracz: Bednarek.
Do you have the vibe? Is that what I’m hearing from you?
Alison Brown: That is what it should be in Italian. All right. Milan Cortina has released its motto. It’s Your vibe and the IT is capitalized for Italy.
Thank you so much By the way to our friend Terrence Burns because until he made a comment about the motto on LinkedIn I didn’t get that the IT It was because it’s Italy.
I just looked at it going, what a bizarre motto. Yeah. It made no sense to me. But then when I got that, they’re doing several different, they’re saying like, it’s a, something else besides just it’s a vibe. It’s talent. It’s
Jill Jaracz: your vibe. It’s creativity. It’s your vibe. Energy. It’s your vibe. It’s Milano. It’s your vibe.
It’s para alpine skiing. It’s your vibe. Everything is going to be your vibe at the Games.
Alison Brown: But you know what it’s not going to be?
In Italian, which I guess is good for us.
Jill Jaracz: Good for us. I’m curious if that’s just the global nature of the games and how English is pervasive. Or if English, that’s a cool thing. You know what I mean?
Alison Brown: Yes. I know in several countries in Europe, they do commercials. Sometimes with English phrases because people at one time thought it was very cool.
I don’t know if that’s true anymore.
Jill Jaracz: But it’s going to be vibing.
Alison Brown: It is atmosphera ing.
Jill Jaracz: Okay. , also very cool is that Italy has released its Numismatic Collection 2025, which will celebrate the game. So if you are a coin collector, Check into this. The collection features 32 coins with the logo and sports and host locations.
Coins have been released this month in February and we will have a link to the list and denominations in the show notes. I’ve been thinking about the gender equity element of Milan Cortina and how it’s not going to be as prominent of a story as it was for Paris.
Alison Brown: Gender parity in Paris, who knew?
Jill Jaracz: Right. So according to Larry Lage of the Associated Press, the IOC says that 2026 is going to be the most gender balanced winter games yet with 47 percent females and 53 percent males participating. The difference is because females do not compete in Nordic combined
Alison Brown: and also. bobsled, because they have monobob and two women, whereas men have two men and four men.
Jill Jaracz: Right. So there could be upwards of six men versus upwards of three women, depending on how you build your sleds. So yeah, that’s another place where there, it’s a. Big disparity in equity. more news on the sliding novella.
Alison Brown: Sabotaggio! That’s really the Italian word. I did not make that up.
Jill Jaracz: According to Simico, the construction company for the new sliding track, on February 21st, a 500 kg cooling pipe that had been permanently hooked and fixed inside the building site was found disconnected and in the middle of the road, blocking traffic, causing disruption. uh, investigators are looking into the matter and it was currently thought to be in a malicious act, which is surprising that, you know, what happened here because you’re, you’ve got basically five hours a day off and somebody needed, if it’s that heavy of a pipe, you either needed a lot of people in there.
Who apparently make no footprints, or you needed some kind of a system that would, a crane to lift that out and have it block the road. So, who knows what happened, maybe we will find out. the pipe has now been put back into place though. know, it just,
something was very fishy about this to me.
Alison Brown: Oh, I hope someday, before I die, I hear the story of how this pipe got moved. Because you know it’s a great one. Exactly. Someday when we’re doing like the 25th anniversary. of Milan Cortina. We’re going to find the story of this pipe and what really happened.
Jill Jaracz: the IOC inspection team was there this past Monday, the 24th, to check out the progress.
Now, according to Simico, so they’re the ones who put out the press release, , and they are the ones in charge of the construction. And they are the ones who have said, no problem, this is getting done. they said the visit was very positive. And inspectors were surprised by the quality and quantity of the work done.
On Thursday, the day this episode comes out, they are supposed to turn on the refrigeration system. And they say the track’s going to be finished by March 15th, and the certification process will start on March 24.
Alison Brown: So if there’s an earthquake on February 27th, starting in Italy, we warned you.
I mean, because can’t refrigeration systems explode? I mean, probably, I don’t know. I’m not wishing that for it to happen. It just feels like the same guy who moved the pipe is not going to give up.
Jill Jaracz: Yeah, I don’t know. And, and I want to, what I haven’t done is look to who built The track for Turin don’t know if it was the same construction firm or not, but that did not go.
Well, I haven’t seen anything else on this. I just don’t know. I still have very big trust issues when we come to Italy, uh, putting out, games that will be high quality construction for the new construction, but we shall see.
Alison Brown: quality.
Jill Jaracz: Stockholm. Likely. Actually, they wouldn’t have to do high quality sliding because they’d be using the track in Latvia.
Anyway, little hat tip to Rich Pearlman over at the Sports Examiner who has been on the case of this, uh, sliding novella for us.
Alison Brown: Can I just say, I don’t think, I mean, we give Rich Pearlman, kudos all the time, but. If you love this stuff, he’s your guy.
Jill Jaracz: Yes. Yes, definitely.
French Alps 2030 News
Jill Jaracz: We have some news from France, 2030.
Alison Brown: c’est quoi, ma?
Jill Jaracz: the French Alps 2030 games have announced its leadership. The president will be Edgar Grosperon who competed in moguls at Calgary 1988 when it was a demonstration sport and he got Third there.
And then he won gold at Albertville and bronze at Lillehammer. He lives in Lake Annecy, which is in the neighborhood of the whole game. So he is quite familiar with the terrain. June is going to be a big month for French Alps 2030, as that is when the ILC will decide the event program. Cause they got to get this stuff going really quickly.
A lot of potential sports on the list. Joux quoted an interview from Les Dauphines that potential sports include ski mountaineering, uh, speed skiing, which would make a comeback, telemark, cross country, cyclocross, and ice cross. Those have all been floated as ideas.
Alison Brown: What even are those
Jill Jaracz: things?
Okay, so, telemark is some form of ski jumping.
Alison Brown: Okay.
Jill Jaracz: I believe. I believe cross country would be running.
Alison Brown: Oh,
Jill Jaracz: cyclocross is kind of a, it’s a biking discipline that involves like mud and hauling your bike over things and, and stuff like that. So you do get off the bike and you have to maneuver by hand.
ice cross is, oh, ice cross. Extreme sport, I would be voting for it. Think of snowboard cross on ice skates.
So they build a track. I’ll put a link to something in the show notes. Cause Red Bull does this and they will have. Yeah. It is like ice skating down a. Shortened bobsled track, not that complicated of a bobsled track, but it’s got turns and curves and it’s going to be pretty fast.
And there’s like four of you on there at once and there’s little jumps and hops and things in there too. Yeah, it’s, it is really cool. cool looking for sure. It’s totally a sport for me to watch. I would be so scared to do this. So you have to grow up in this sport, like you just didn’t have no fear at all.
Ice cross is really, really cool. That would be my vote. Another big question is whether Nordic combined will make the cut for French Alps 2030. It could include a women’s event, could be axed altogether. So back to Larry Lage from the Associated Press. He noted that the sport does not have great representation outside of Europe for the men.
In the last three games, just four countries have won medals. So, you know, it’s really concentrated at the top. The sport has a very small audience at the Olympics, also not good. but the women’s side has grown over the last four years from 30 to 46 women, who have earned world’s cup points and has eight countries represented in the top 12 skiers.
So. The women could help it. Let’s just say to boost some interest in both the sport and in the women’s event FIS Nordic combined it’s going to have a docu series called the overlooked the untold stories of Nordic combined heroes We’ll put a link to the trailer and the show notes because it looks like our Shukla Stani all Anika Malasinski will be part of this
So I don’t know. What do you think of these sports potentials?
Alison Brown: Well, I, like I said, I didn’t even know what half of these things were. So I think it’s interesting that they’re talking about cross country and cyclocross, basically taking summer sports and making them into winter sports.
Jill Jaracz: Right. I could see cyclocross working in a way because you do kind of have to haul your bike across things.
So why not have it on a snow course, a snow based course?
Alison Brown: And then ice cross bringing all those people who skate outdoors, bringing that kind of out of the skating rink. Makes sense, I guess. It sounds terrifying.
Jill Jaracz: looked up telemark skiing very quickly. It is a skiing technique that combines Alpine and Nordic.
So you use the rear foot to balance while you push on the front foot to create a carving turn on downhill skis with toe only bindings.
Alison Brown: That sounds very niche to really capture people’s imaginations.
Jill Jaracz: It does. It does. And that is, that is according to Wikipedia, but I think it looks like, you know, you can, can go on back country and type of stuff like that and there, but yeah, it does look like a very niche niche thing.
Brisbane 2032 News
Jill Jaracz: little bit of news from Brisbane.
Alison Brown: It has been breaking my heart.
Jill Jaracz: They have appointed a chief sports operator who will be responsible for designing the sports program, including choosing additional sports. Who have they picked?
Alison Brown: They picked my IOC boyfriend, Kit McConnell, which means he’s leaving the IOC, which honestly they couldn’t do better.
I think Kit and I are going to have to break up now.
Jill Jaracz: Maybe. Maybe, but Kit’s going home. He’s going home to Australia.
Alison Brown: He isn’t Kiwi.
Jill Jaracz: They’re dual national.
Alison Brown: But he’s Kiwi.
Jill Jaracz: he did work on Sydney 2000, so he is excited to get back to working on a host city element. leaves the IOC at the end of June, and will start with Brisbane towards the end of July.
So, congratulations to him, and man, Brisbane, you got a good Got a good person on the team.
Salt Lake City 2034 News
Jill Jaracz: New theme for Salt Lake City, 2034.
Alison Brown: I like that. It sounds very snowy.
Jill Jaracz: the Salt Lake City team has announced its leadership and board members. Fraser Bullock is the executive chair and president. Brad Wilson, who is a businessman and former Utah speaker of the house will also be there. he’ll, he’ll be the CEO and vice chair of the board along with.
Steve Starks. Uh, so a lot of business people at the top of the bill. Athletes representatives on the executive committee include Lindsey Vaughn and Team USA bobsledder Chris Kinney. Other Athletes Commission members include chair speed skater Catherine Rainey Norman, Sarah Hughes, Oksana Masters, Muffy Davis, who was a 2002 Paralympian, Alison Felix, and uh, Lindsey Vaughn will be there again as well.
So they are raring to go in Salt Lake City, I think.
International Olympic Committee News
Jill Jaracz: little bit of news from the International Olympic Committee. TCL has signed on as a top sponsor through 2032. They’re going to replace Panasonic in the category of home audiovisual equipment and appliances. they plan to support the IOC exploring the use of AI and supply equipment, which will include digital displays at the games.
to appliances at the village. And these appliances may include air conditioners, which was the first thing mentioned. Refrigerators, washing machines, door locks, audio systems, projectors, and, TCL Ray Neo smart glasses. So we’ll see how that works. But it’s good that they got a sponsor to take that spot.
Alison Brown: ’cause a lot of sponsors left after, right?
A lot of the Japanese companies said we’re, you’re not doing anything in Asia for a while. See ya later.
Jill Jaracz: Right. Also in sponsorship news, AB InBev has extended its top sponsorship from ending in 2028 to now ending in 2032. Corona Zero will continue as a global beer sponsor or.
Non alcoholic beer sponsor of the Olympics and Megalob Ultra will also play a key presence at the Olympics and Paralympics I’m gonna put a link to this story in the show notes because there is a great picture of teabag cheersing with Corona zero And it’s a side profile view, and he does not look like he’s going to enjoy this.
Alison Brown: I was going to say, the man is German and he’s cheering with a corona of any kind. He may not be let home.
Jill Jaracz: You gotta do it for the picture.
TKFLASTAN News
Jill Jaracz: It is of the
show where we check in with our it is the time of the show where we check in with our team, Keep the Flame Alive. These are past guests and listeners of the show who make up our, citizenship of our very own country, Shuklastan. What’s going on?
Alison Brown: Paul Volter. Katie Moon won her seventh national title at the U. S. Indoor Championships.
Jill Jaracz: Erin Jackson won both the 500 meter races in the ISU World Cup event in Poland. Magda
Alison Brown: Skarabankowicz won the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Sabre Championship. This is her first collegiate season with Notre Dame.
Jill Jaracz: competed with Aileen Geving in the U.
- Olympic Trials for mixed doubles. They had a 3 6 record in the Bonspiel and did not qualify for playoffs.
Alison Brown: And Mackenzie Cohen has been named the 2025 commencement speaker for Loyola University in Maryland.
Jill Jaracz: And that will do it for this episode. Let us know your favorite moments from the Paris 2024 Track and Field Competition.
Alison Brown: And we do love hearing from you. You can chat with us and other listeners on our Facebook group, Keep the Flame Alive Podcast. Email us at flamealivepod at gmail. com. And the voicemail and text line is always open at 208 422 4224. 4 8, that’s 2 0 8, flame it. And if you need more Olympics and Paralympics in your life, And who doesn’t?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at flamealivepod. com. We’ll have a link to that in the show notes.
Jill Jaracz: next week, it will be one year to go until Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics. Yikes. they’re coming up so fast. So we are going to talk Paralympics next week.
We’ll be catching up with botchip player, Allison Levine to hear about her Paris Paralympics and we’ll have any other Paralympics news from 2026. They’ve been kind of quiet about the Paralympics so far. So I’m hoping that they, are going to do something special.
Alison Brown: I hope so. We need more. We need more info.
Jill Jaracz: we do need more info, but I’m sure that a lot of it’s just going to be like, well, this is the Olympics. So the Paralympics get it too, but there’s special stuff. I mean, there’s a lot of different things. So we will keep our eyes and ears open to see what is coming up for Milan Cortina, 2026. Thank you so much for listening.
And until next time, keep the flame alive.