Rice Lake Native Wins Silver in Men's 200-Meter Dash

Thursday, August 5th, 2021 -- 8:10 AM

(Rich Kremer, WPR) A runner with roots in Rice Lake has won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Kenny Bednarek finished the men's 200-meter dash in 19.68 seconds Wednesday, just six hundredths of a second behind gold medal winner Andre De Grasse of Canada.

As Bednarek approached the starting block at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, his family and friends huddled in a garage in the northern Wisconsin city of 8,000 to watch a live feed of the race.

Residents and businesses in Rice Lake have rallied around Bednarek during his pursuit of Olympic success, his mother said. Team USA coaches could also select Bednarek to compete in the men's 4x100 relay later this week.

Another Wisconsin native, Maddy Bernau of Waterford won Bronze in the Women's mixed team trap shooting competition. A total of 13 Wisconsin natives are competing in Tokyo in the 2021 Olympics and Paralympics.

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