Erriyon Knighton ran one of the fastest under-20 times in the 200m in April 2022, clocking an impressive 19.49 seconds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, that time was not ratified by World Athletics, and another of Knighton's 200m marks - 19.69s - stands as the world under-20 record. Knighton has lowered the under-20 standard, previously held by Usain Bolt, multiple times.
Although Knighton still has a few tenths to shave off before matching Bolt's current 200m record of 19.19s, his meteoric rise in the sport shows immense promise and was recognised by Bolt himself.
"I think that Erriyon Knighton, if he has the right coach, will be terrific over 200m. He will be a great one," Bolt said of the rising star.
Erriyon Knighton: From High School standout to youngest US track Olympian
Initially a football wide receiver in high school, he switched to track when his coach recognised his potential for speed. He went on to win AAU Junior Olympic titles in the 100m and 200m in the 15 to 16 age group, surpassing his peers and competitors in the 17 to 18 age group. In 2021, he turned professional, signing a shoe sponsor and training under University of Florida coach Mike Holloway.
The transition to the life of a professional athlete seemed effortless for Knighton, who continued attending high school while training and competing. At the 2020 USATF Olympic Trials, he finished third in the 200m, securing a spot as the youngest member of Team USA's Olympic track and field squad. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, he became the youngest men's track finalist in the modern Olympic Games, finishing fourth.
Erriyon Knighton: Graduating into the senior ranks
In June 2022, a month after high school graduation, Knighton placed second in the 200m at the U.S. championships. Then, during the World Championships in Eugene, the Louisiana native won bronze, placing third in the final in 19.80s, behind his compatriots Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek for an American sweep. He became the youngest individual sprinter to earn a World Championship medal.
He continued his success in 2023, winning silver at the World Championships in Budapest, finishing second in the 200m final in 19.75s. The American sensation concluded his season with two more sub-20-second runs, bringing his 2023 tally of them to eight and solidifying his position as the fastest teenager in the world.
With aspirations to break the elusive sub-19 barrier, the American is undoubtedly a rising track star, with Paris being the best stage to emulate Bolt.
"Anybody's going to want to beat the record of the all-time great, but at the same time, I still have to knock each down one by one," he told Olympics.com. "It's not going to be an easy task; it's going to be hard. I definitely think I can do it, but it's just I have got to work hard and to really have a lot of self-confidence."
