Kenny Bednarek has been among the most popular athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics Games. While he is famous for his unique athletic skills, his close relationship with his adoptive mother, Mary Ann Bednarek, has captured considerable attention.
Born on October 14, 1998, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, Kenny Bednarek appears to have been abandoned by his biological parents, which is why he was under foster care. Kenny was 4 years old when Mary Ann Bednarek took him under her care, adopting him legally.
Years have passed between then and now, but the only reality for the 25-year-old athlete is that if his mother, Mary, hadn’t taken him under her wings, he wouldn’t be who he is now. In this regard, he once said, “She inspired me to keep living my dream because I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Kenny also credits his mom’s parenting style for shaping him as a person. In an online interview with Nick Diller, he disclosed how his mother raised him and his siblings in the old-fashioned way and how it turned out to be a better environment.
Kenny Bednarek’s mother moved cities to provide a nurturing environment for him!
After his adoption in 2002, Mary did everything to provide a comfortable upbringing to her son Kenny Bednarek. Initially, Kenny had a really hard time adapting to the change in guardianship, as he was also very close to his foster mother.
Talking to People magazine, he once mentioned, “Our relationship took some time to get some stability in it, but eventually we worked through it,” referring to his relationship with his adoptive mother, Mary.
Things improved when Mary relocated Kenny and his sibling Ian from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, closer to their foster mother’s family. That’s the reason why Kenny feels extremely grateful to have a nurturing mother who was selfless enough to move places for him.
Since then, things have gradually improved between Kenny and his new family. He then started going to school, and soon after entering high school, he discovered his passion for track running. His mother fully supported him in his dream and has been the loudest cheerer for him.
Well, Kenny has shared his adoption story on his Instagram multiple times. In a detailed video titled “Meet the Bednareks – Mom” on YouTube, he gave a tribute to his mom and also posted the full story of his adoption and the challenges that he faced growing up.
While his relationship with his mother, Mary, is pretty open, there is still no information available about Mary’s potential partner or Kenny’s father. According to Essential Sports, Mary single-handedly raised her kids.
Additional Information
- 25-year-old Kenny Bednarek, who is currently competing in the 200-meter distance in the Paris Olympics, is 1.88 m tall and weighs 185lbs.
- Kenny Bednarek has a fraternal twin brother, Ian Bednarek, who was also adopted with him by their mother, Mary.
- Kenny Bednarek is currently dating Indian golfer girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet, as seen from his instagram posts.
