With a season-best finish, Kenny Bednarek from the United States, finally changed his frustrating silver-medalist luck by winning the men’s 100m title in the 2026 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Kenny completed the race in 9.85 seconds to lift the historic title, while Oblique Seville from Jamaica managed second place after completing the race in 9.90 seconds. American Ronnie Baker and Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi both had tight finishes with 9.93 seconds, as Baker (.923) just managed to beat Ajayi (.927) for the third place battle.
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Men’s 100m – Champion
Kenny Bednarek (United States): 9.85
2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Men’s 100m – Final Status
Rank | Athlete (Nation) | Time | Notes |
1 | Kenny Bednarek (United States) | 9.85 | SB |
2 | Oblique Seville (Jamaica) | 9.90 | |
3 | Ronnie Baker (United States) | 9.93 (.923) | |
4 | Kayinsola Ajayi (Nigeria) | 9.93 (.927) | |
5 | Christian Coleman (United States) | 9.94 | |
6 | Gift Leotlela (South Africa) | 9.98 | |
7 | Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) | 10.07 | |
8 | Akani Simbine (South Africa) | 10.09 |
*SB = Season Best for a player
Who is Kenny Bednarek?
American athlete Kenny Bednarek claimed two silver medals in the men’s 200m event (2020 and 2024). The three-time Diamond League champion in the men’s 200m recorded two World Athletics Championships silver medals in the same event. He also won the gold medal in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in the men’s 4 × 100 m relay.