Clarke, himself a former athlete who represented Jamaica, has explained how his company Auctus Global Sports managed Kenny Bednarek into overcoming persistent injury issues to enjoy a good 2024.
Reigning Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek enjoyed a remarkable 2024 season after battling injuries and inconsistent performances in the years following his breakthrough at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The turnaround in his career has been credited to the strategic management and support of Auctus Global Sports, a company founded by former athlete and lawyer Sekou Clarke.
In 2024, Bednarek stayed injury-free, allowing him to clinch the Diamond League trophy in the 200 metres, earn silver at the Paris Olympics, and secure a spot in the 100m final at the same Games.
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Noah Lyles is no doubt the man to beat in 2025 given he is the world 100m and 200m champion but it will not be a walk in the park for the American. So, who is likely to give him a hard time?
Clarke, whose company also represents Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, recently shared insights into the measures that helped Bednarek achieve his most successful season to date.
Clarke emphasised that Bednarek’s success was the result of meticulous planning and building a strong support system around the athlete. “Bednarek has been with us since he left Junior College. As we got better, he got better,” Clarke explained on Justin Gatlin’s Ready Set Go podcast.
Clarke further expounded the building blocks he set up for Bednarek in order to overcome his health problems.
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Letsile Tebogo is gearing up for the 2025 season where he faces off some of his arch rivals including Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Co.
“Before 2024, every season he would have some type of injury, forcing him to miss out. By working closely with him, helping him build his own unit, and connecting the dots to make life easier, he was able to avoid injuries this year. That support allowed him to run 19.4 seconds in 2024.”
Beyond performance, Clarke stressed the importance of branding and marketability in modern athletics. “Yes, you can have a medal, but if you’re not marketable—if brands can’t say, ‘Let him or her be the face of a campaign’—it becomes difficult,” he said.
To bolster Bednarek’s profile, the company worked on increasing his visibility and following. “We focused on his branding, and his social media following grew to over 100,000. Once his performance was as good as the top two in the world, we could confidently go to the negotiation table and ask, ‘Who else has it across the board?’”
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Kenny Bednarek has revealed the attribute Usain Bolt mastered during his racing days he needs to add to his sprinting in order to get to the next level.
For Auctus Global Sports, the formula for success involves more than just getting athletes into meets. Clarke highlighted the company’s commitment to addressing athletes’ broader needs, from performance support to personal branding. “It’s not just about getting into competitions. It’s about ensuring the right team is in place and offering continuous support,” he noted.
Reflecting on Bednarek’s success, Clarke said, “As a company, we strive to get better at providing services for athletes. If we improve in our operations and the positions we put our athletes in, the results will speak for themselves.”
