SAINT-DENIS, France — "Kung Fu" Kenny Bednarek may be saving his best for last.
While the Indian Hills Community College alum did not medal in the men's 100m final, finishing seventh, the event he is more well known for is the 200m.
He won silver in the 200 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Bednarek's first-round 200m Paris Olympics time of 19.96 seconds came in first among all Round 1 runners. His personal best is 19.59 seconds.
Bednarek won his semifinal heat Wednesday with a time of 20.00 seconds to qualify for the final (Thurday at 1:30 p.m. CT).
"I'm just trying to dominate," Bednarek said following his semifinal heat. "I came here to win."
Bednarek is joined in the semis by two other Team USA members: Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton. Lyles has already won a gold medal this Olympics in the 100m.
Andre De Grasse, who won gold for Canada in the men's 200m in Tokyo, did not qualify for the medal round in Paris.
Bednarek will also race in Round 1 of the men's 4x100m relay at 4:35 a.m. CT Thursday.
Who qualified for the men's 200m final?
- Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) — 19.96 seconds
- Kenny Bednarek (USA) — 20.00 seconds
- Noah Lyles (USA) — 20.08 seconds
- Alexander Ogando (Dominic Republic) — 20.09 seconds
- Erriyon Knighton (USA) — 20.09 seconds
- Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia) — 20.12 seconds
- Tapiwanashe Makarawu (Zimbabwe) — 20.16 seconds
- Makanakaishe Charamba (Zimbabwe) — 20.31 seconds