The 200m final of the USATF Championships was wild. The speculations were there that what could happen when Kenny Bednarek – the man who has not lost a single race yet in the 2025 season comes face to face with Noah Lyles – the man who has been proving the doubters wrong with every step on the track. But what happened was not in the books of many. Kung-Fu Kenny was quick from the start, and he led the race when all the sprinters came out of the curve, but that is when the Olympic gold medalist shifted gears.

What remained after the curve was a straight run to the finish line, and Noah Lyles was in fifth gear. Within a second or two, he overtook Kenny and was so comfortable in his position that he had the time and balance to stare down the man who beat him in the 200m last year in the Olympics. The stare, though, brought out a different side of Kenny that the track and field world wasn’t familiar with. As the two crossed the finish line, Kenny extended both his arms and pushed Noah. Later, he said he did not like that behavior. Now he’s back with further updates. How’s the heat now between the two?

“As you saw, Noah stared me down. I gave a push. I feel like we both could have handled that situation a little bit differently and with more respect,” Bednarek told CNN Sports. The incident has sparked a lot of debate in the track and field community alone, with people taking sides. Fans came down heavy on the Kung-Fu inspired track and field athlete, calling his behavior unsportsmanlike. But Kenny, being a sportsman, instantly went for a handshake and, post all that, they were supposed to have a phone call between the two.

“If you got a problem, I expected a call,” Bednarek had said immediately after the race. Lyles then extended an olive branch, saying, “You know what, you’re right. Let’s talk after this.” So did that happen? Speaking further, Kenny said, “Emotions were high, you’re still in the running phase and all that stuff. But we both decided to discuss the situation after the event was done, and that’s what we did. We had about an hour-long conversation, and it was a really good, honest conversation.” The good part?

The Olympian confessed, “We both came to an agreement with things and we’re good now.” Well, this is only good news for both the USA and track and field. After all, both of them will be going for the team gold when they race the relays; you don’t want any resentment in the team. The incident also caught the attention of a track and field legend, who has some advice for Bednarek.

Justin Gatlin’s one advice to Kenny for silencing Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles is one such individual who will taunt you if you cannot defeat him. That is what Justin Gatlin also pointed out in his podcast. He said, “Man, anybody that lines up with Noah, 100 or 200 when he’s out to prove a point, you know he’s gonna talk-talk and then walk-walk. And that walk-walk says, ‘Gotcha. See you. Peace. It’s me.” Before his first race in the outdoor season this year, there were a lot of doubts about whether Lyles would live up to the hype, and he shushed everybody with his win in Monaco.

“If you give him an inch, he’s taking a mile. If you leave the lane open to the throne, he’s gonna run all the way to it. The only way to stop someone like that is to shut them up in the foot race… Kenny tried, but when that stare came? I think it bubbled over.” The advice is crystal clear: you don’t want Noah to taunt you? Defeat him then and there on the track, work your legs faster than his, cross the line before he does. And Bednarek has done it.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s 200m final, Kenny Bednarek claimed silver with 19.62 seconds while Noah Lyles took bronze at 19.70 seconds. But the flip side of the coin is also that, Lyles had Covid in the race, he was not just fighting against the sprinters but also his breath. Also, there has been a claim from Kenny that he will defeat the World Champion in the World Athletics Championships. Do you think he will?