The first person to see his potential was Coach Joseph Sipp, the head track coach and a football coach. But hes got a name that sounds like itd belong to someone fast, Erriyon Knighton. "It could have gone differently if high school season was still going," he told BBC Sport. On Sunday night in Oregon, he earned a spot in next months Olympics in Tokyo in the 200 meters, and at 17 years old, the rising senior at Hillsborough High School in Tampa became the youngest male U.S. Olympic track athlete in 57 years, since Jim Ryun in the 1964 games, also in Tokyo. He hasnt run a meet since the Junior Olympics, but he has more coming up in April. Due to the Adidas contract, Knighton cant run for Hillsborough anymore. In June, the then 17-year-old became the youngest American man to make a United States Olympic athletics team in 57 years. The biggest thing is dont let the experience overwhelm you, and at the same time, enjoy it.. Yohan Blake of Jamaica, the 2012 Olympic silver Some people dont know whats going on they think I dropped out of high school, but I be here everyday, he said. WebAt the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek. Jackson's dad,Christian, a five-time world champion, won a silver medal at the 2008 BeijingOlympics and in 2004 had the top four shot put throws in the world. He has currently amassed 26.6k followers and has posted only 4 posts as of now. Erriyon Knighton on the track at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla. Knighton finished third during the final in the mens 200-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June 2021 to qualify for the Olympic team. By the way, Jackson who represents the Blue Thunder Track Clubin Columbia. He continued to break his own under-18 record, running a 20.31 in Clermont in April, then a 20.30 in California in May. At the Tokyo Games, Knighton, at 17, was the youngest American track Olympian since the renowned miler Jim Ryun in 1964. In addition to Terry, Knighton has had a few training sessions with University of Florida track coach Mike Mouse Holloway, who has worked directly with Team USA and has coached nine medal-winning athletes and at least one competitor in every Olympics since 1992. Aside from his professional running career, Knighton lives a relatively normal teenage life. At the time, Knighton wrote on Instagram I know my potential, I see the greatness in me everytime I see my reflection. He was also a part of the brands Impossible Is Nothing campaign, which launched in April. hide caption. Zango produced one of the first stand-out performances of 2021. Terry believes he can lower his 200 time to 19.39 this summer and, if he runs a perfect race, can run 19.18 or faster a world record in 2024. WebTwo-sport athlete in football and track. Erriyon Knighton Men's 200m: Bronze Basic Information Gender: Male Born: 1/29/2004 Status: Active Residences Hometown: Tampa, FL High School: Living in Tampa, with the championships from the Buccaneers and Lightning and even the Rays, the type of athlete that he is, hes embracing putting the city on his back and bringing awareness to track and field, Terry said. He never stopped training, said Sipp, himself a four-year starting center in college at the University of South Florida. John Regis, agent of Knighton and the 200m record-holder in the UK, has some insights. Hes learning how to run, how to use his mechanics, how to maximize every inch, Terry said. People forget that Bolt was really good at 16 and 17 and when he was 21, 22, he was unbeatable.. With that time for the 200 meter dash, he set a new national record at the Amateur Athletic Union, and became the US no.1 mark. As. He enters this weekends United States track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., as a favorite, and is expected to qualify for the world championships to be held there in July, when he believes he can win. Knightons track career began in 2019 during his freshman year at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, at the suggestion of an assistant football coach. Jackson was born just a few months before his dad claimed the silver medal in Beijing. "I don't really try to put my age in it, I just go out there and run like I'm an adult just like they is," he said earlier this week. Idon't think about much when I'm out there, just winning the meet," he said. The next day he ran the 100 in 10.29 seconds: a new U.S best time. Now hes running for the Olympics. Lyles won the final Sunday night, and Kenny Bednarek, 22, took second, but Knighton came through in third place in 19.84 seconds, becoming the first teenager to make the U.S. Olympic mens track team since 2000. I guess he wanted to show everybody he could make it work.. A corrupt copper and a Leeds gangster are bound together by decades of dishonesty, The grime artist turned chef takes inspiration from the social media queen's Swedish and Somali roots, Eight Brits fight for survival in this adrenalin-fuelled competition, hosted by Jordan North. And, with his recent signing with Adidas, he has more money than hes ever had, most of which goes into the bank. Knighton was sent down a different path. Elite sprinters generally strike the track and lift off again in about nine hundredths of a second. "It felt great," said the mild-mannered Jackson, who won by more than 13 feet and who opened the day by throwing 55-05.50, about 10 feet better than his personal best, set last year. "The shot put finals are always on that first night. Cheerleaders on the sidelines. Holloway told him, I dont want you to ever forget how you feel right now; and remember, you dont ever want to feel this way again.. Part of my scholarship was sweeping up the locker room, and there was this guy in the whirlpool. And we'll all be back together, but with a lot more fireworks.". His dad played basketball, but Knighton knew that wasnt for him. Garcia said when Hillsborough was preparing for an opponent with an athletic quarterback, Knighton would volunteer to simulate him on the scout team. 2021 U.S Olympic Team Trials, 3rd (200-meter) 2020 Track & Field Junior Olympics, 1st (200-meter) You can jog on kids.". He is younger than any US Olympic male track and field athlete since miler Jim Ryun in 1964, according to Olympedia.org. Knighton's decision marks the third time in a year that a high school sprint athlete has turned pro. It was how fast Knighton crossed the finish line at such a young age that was startling. He likes the weight training, but it hurts. The first of the horror-thriller trilogy hits the streamer on July 2. But Knighton shaved more than three-tenths of a second from his previous best of 19.84. But when his coach asked him to join track in his freshman year, he He puts in the hard work, hes fearless on the track and he does the necessary things to prepare for his races. 17-year-old Erriyon Knighton is the youngest male Olympian to make the 200m final since 1984. This guy was in a different league. The field also included a pair of Britons: Zharnel Hughes (who took gold at the 2018 European championships) and Adam Gemili (fourth at the 2016 Olympics and 2019 worlds). I said, Excuse me. "It's the first night, and you know how electrifying the first night of the Olympics is with everything going on," Christian said. Furthermore, his mother tweets as @knighton Ms. Erriyon also has two siblings named Nasja and Quay. At last weekends U.S. Olympic Trials, Knighton crossed the finish line third behind Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, good enough to earn a spot in Tokyo with a new under-20 world record of 19.84 seconds. The triple jumper from Burkina Faso bounded out to a Knighton hadnt really trained in a weight room, so while he could squat 300 and bench 185 when COVID started, he was able to improve that to squatting 500 and benching 245, adding strength to his 170-pound frame. The next Olympics are only three years off, so Knighton can build on whatever hes able to do in Tokyo when hes 20 and competing for a spot in Paris in 2024, or even at age 24 when the Olympics are in Los Angeles in 2028. In 2014, Bromell, of nearby St. Petersburg, became the first junior sprinter to run the 100 in less than 10 seconds (9.97), while winning an N.C.A.A. Invitational in Baton Rouge, La. He followed the decision made by Tamari Davis, a then-16-year-old who also turned pro in January of 2020. "Not an option of mine to go play football.". With comparisons to retired Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolttwo of whose 200-meter youth records were broken by Knightonthe pressure will be there for the teenage Florida native at Wednesday's final. Even if you get mad at him, its hard to stay mad at him, because his personality is so fun-loving and he has such a big heart.. I knew nothing about track. More than 50 years later, he still holds the American under-20 record in the mile (3:51.3) and had kept the 800-meter record until this May. Obviously, Gods blessed him with some great talent and coaches who believe in him and help him. 19.84 is one He has run only four races this season. For that, Knighton will have to refine his start and gain the strength to stand up taller as he runs, raising his hips to get full leg extension. He has so much untapped ability. He watches a lot of film, studies his competitors. During his personal training, Knighton practices wherever he has permission. "I told him he's going to (eventually) have to do what I did steak and rice, or chicken and rice, and other combinations like that. But, it's in vain. He was a really nice fellow, would talk about how he ran in the morning before he got to work, then would do his heavy work in the evenings.. A link that, via a search and scroll, leads to footage of an athlete who is neither on the track, nor professional. Ryun would run in three Olympics for the United States, winning a silver medal in the 1,500 meters in 1968. Much the same way, Knighton was scheduled to get home late Tuesday night, but was headed to Miami later in the week and then to Budapest, Hungary, where hell compete in an event next week, then training in the United Kingdom before arriving in Tokyo, where the opening ceremonies are barely three weeks off on July 23. The UnitedMasters exec is building a system that puts the power back into the hands of the creators.. For now, hes only looking ahead one month, to an exciting chance to introduce himself to the world. With latest scores and headlines sent straight to your device, personalisation and much more, ensure you have a great sporting life with BBC Sport. He was also born in the United States on January 29, 2004. It still hasnt hit me yet, the reality of it, Knighton said by phone Tuesday, awaiting a cross-country flight home from Seattle, with a dizzying few weeks ahead before hes off to compete in Japan. Just electrifying, every time he touched the ball. After crushing Usain Bolts under-18 and under-20 200m records at this weekends Track & Field Olympic Team Trials, 17 year old Erriyon Knighton etched his name into athletics history to become the youngest American male to make be a part of the Olympic team since Jim Ryun in 1964. I think about that all the time. He goes about his business the right way and takes this very seriously. 'Horrific': Four found dead in Canaveral Groves home, sheriff says, Four-star football recruit Erriyon Knighton of Tampa breaks national 200-meter mark, AAU Junior Olympics on Space Coast crowns its first champions, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Erriyon Knighton competing in round one of the men's 200-meter heats on August 3, 2021 at Tokyo 2020. He says there are a lot of people he doesnt know that hate on him out of jealousy. Support us by whitelisting our site. He said he didnt see track in his future until after the Junior Olympics, and his motivation for working so hard before that was pure pride. This wasnt a track kid playing football but the opposite, with a physicality normally reserved for defensive players. Hailing from Tampa, Florida, the teenager entered his junior year at Tampa's Hillsborough High School in 2021, according to the high He was very aggressive in blocking, had three unnecessary roughness penalties last year, Garcia said. Patrick Smith/Getty Images Knighton made the decision in January to turn professional and sign at 16 with adidas, giving him a six-figure sponsorship deal that ended his high school track career and helped him focus on much larger goals. I know thats easier said than done, but thats the key. As a professional athlete, signed by Adidas, Knighton gets paid six-figures to wear Adidas merchandise and sprint. In an interview with Track and Field News, given back in February, Knighton remarked, I believe if I work hard, I will eventually develop to be a world-class athlete. Tokyo 2020 marks Knighton's first Olympic Games. Earlier this week, Knighton won his first heat and said that he eased up after the first half of that sprint. As you watch the footage,external-link you can hear one voice from the stands swear in disbelief as the stagger unfurls and the extent of Knighton's yawning advantage is revealed. Erriyon Knighton stands a good 6 foot 3 inches tall and has not stopped growing compared to Bolts 6 foot 5 inches tall. Jackson said the pressure of being in an Olympic family doesn't get to him. I didnt think I was strong enough, he said. I definitely can be faster, he said. Holloway, the reigning world champion in the 110m hurdles who is among the hot favorites in Tokyo, clocked 13.10 seconds ahead of Olympian Devon Allen (13.22) and fellow American Daniel Roberts (13.23) as they tuned up for next months US trials. "As I grow older I am going to get stronger and faster. But, as the pandemic bit, the points switched. She was a two-time NCAA shot put champion at SMU but could not make this trip,staying hometo provide medicine for their 17-year-old dachshund, Ali, who has Alzheimer's. Why would he think otherwise? Fellow Florida athlete and Jamaican international Briana Williams, then 17, went with Nike in January of 2020. Knighton didnt play football that first fall, but Sipp, now in his 15th year as the schools offensive line coach and head track coach, told him his speed was something that would be special, that he would do well if he wanted to run track. Way to represent Tampa! pic.twitter.com/9hvgiiSOHO. When Ryun made the Olympic team in 1964, he didnt get back home before competing, going from the trials at the Coliseum in Los Angeles to training there and flying to Tokyo. He just didnt want it to become serious. Erriyon Knighton represented his country in the Tokyo Olympics and brought home a bronze medal (Mens 200m). 100 days to the Tokyo Olympics: Twenty-five US athletes to watch, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Only Usain Bolt had ever gone faster at under-18 level. Since turning professional in January 2021 shortly after his 17th birthday Knighton has clocked a plethora of wins, tournaments and trophies, which has seen his net worth rise to around $200,000 USD. Erriyon Knighton is an American Sprinter whose parents and family background are still a mystery. To watch Knighton run the Olympic 200 final from Tokyo in August, an estimated 500 people gathered at a viewing party at Hillsborough High, cheering, waving flags. "I think I signed an autograph actually, it got that chaotic. I wanted to do track all year long, he said. It's breaking us," his father joked. Sipp says he saw the speed as soon Knighton joined the football team. He did get to see the 2012 Games in London. Running in 200m against other 16-year-olds, he stormed home in 20.33 seconds. Knighton took up sprinting in his freshman year of high school after his football coach asked him to join the track team, according to his high schools newspaper. Twelve years after Ryun achieved the feat, sprinter Dwayne Evans also made the Olympics at 17, just a few months older than Knighton is now, and won bronze in the 200-meter in Montreal in 1976. The gun went off. But when he took off from the line, he was in first, and he was surprised. Unlike many Olympic hopefuls, athletics is a relatively new sport for Knighton. "That's a really good question," he said. A slender, rangy figure in home-team red gathers a kick return on his 10-yard line. He raced the 100 meter dash at Wharton High. He also marked his personal-best record of 19.88 seconds in a heat that included world champion Noah Lyles, another Team USA athlete heading to the 200-meter final at Tokyo 2020. Knighton has to look no further than an Olympic peer, Trayvon Bromell, another former Florida high school sprinting star, to realize the possibility and fragility of world-class speed. Try a week on us. He's a bona-fide breakout star. 19.84 is one of the fastest times ever run at that age. Terry has to call his name to break the reverie. "He had a good meet," Christian said. While hopes remain high for the rising Olympic star's sprinting career, Knighton's athletic roots were in football. Follow the instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site youre viewing. To score more touchdowns. Alabama still calls me: Coach, he can still play football and run pro track. Before he went to Eugene, he told the boys hed be back for practice Aug. 2. Worrying that there might be too many vacant slots in matches. The seven-time NCAA All-American, who first went toMissouri on basically a $400 scholarship, has a personal-best mark of 22.54 meters, or 73-11, in the shot put. Improvements in sprinting most often occur by mere hundredths of a second, sliced as thinly as carpaccio. Hailing from Tampa, Florida, the teenager entered his junior year at Tampa's Hillsborough High School in 2021, according to the high school's HHS Today website. At the Olympic trials last June, he twice shattered Bolts world junior record in the 200, posting his then-career best of 19.84. Theyre still calling me, longtime Hillsborough football head coach Earl Garcia said Monday. I don't think he was too surprised at getting the record.". Before he exited the curve, the race was effectively over. Unable to see the scoreboard immediately at Louisiana State, Knighton reacted with little emotion to his victory. Its been quite a process, and to see his progression, year after year, has been amazing, said Jonathan Terry, now in his third year as his AAU coach with the My Brothers Keeper track program in Riverview, Fla., accompanying him to Oregon for the trials. And, both Boys and Girls teams have been raising the bar, over the past two decades; winning multiple District and Regional championships, and producing Florida State and AAU National Champion track and field student athletes! Then they get stronger and become Secretariat.. The current age of Erriyon Knighton is 17 years old. Similarly, Erriyon Knighton is of American origin. His career path, though, veered from football fields to the tracks built around them. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound native of Missouri the son offormer Team USA Olympians devoured his competition at this week's AAU National Junior Olympics Track & Field eventmuch like he manhandles those foot-long steak and cheese subshe often craves. Click the icon of the ad-blocker extension installed on your browser. His training is low volume. In the 200-meter final on Wednesday, Canadian star Andre de Grasse took gold, and U.S. sprinters Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles won silver and bronze. Theyre looking from the outside in. He wants to be the best version of himself. In the end, he had help from former Hillsborough football and track star Jeremiah Green in making the decision to go ahead and sign. Joe Sipp remembers first seeing Knighton the summer before his freshman year at Hillsborough, when he attended a conditioning workout for football players. Erriyon Knighton can be found on Instagram under the username @erriyon.k. As a wide receiver, he reportedly received offers to play for college football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State. I think its remarkable, Ryun said. Knighton is qualified to race at the US Olympic trials that start in two weeks at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Hed line up as quarterback and nobody could catch him, and hed laugh., 17-year-old Erriyon Knighton and @LylesNoah lead the second 200m semi of the night @usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics, NBC / https://t.co/X4DjdJu4po pic.twitter.com/336j9Tgtsa, #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 27, 2021. A little more money, a few free tracksuits, but still the same teenager. After his freshman year, Knighton joined a summer track team. After that race, he gestured to "Knighton" on his bib, as if to say, "Remember this name.". TOKYO Erriyon Knighton may be one of the youngest people in decades to represent the U.S. in men's track at the Olympics but he sailed through to the final of the 200-meter to compete with the fastest men in the world. Last night, he only had a 6-ounce steak, but he did have two foot-longs earlier in the day. Obviously, hes an extremely talented young man, but the thing that separates him from the average 17-year-old is his poise, Holloway said. The shock brought some awkwardness in his hips and he ended up letting the guy behind him beat him, so he placed second. I am not the perfect 200m runner, I am still learning as I run it.". TAMPA, Fla. For Erriyon Knighton, the record-breaking speed isnt as incredible as his acceleration to the track worlds elite. Now everyone just walks past me just like, 'Hey, Erriyon'. He tore away from the rest immediately, a blue sweat band around his head, long blue spandex shorts and tank top to match. "I get called young every day, I am going be 24 in 2028, that is in two more Olympics and still kind of young. Knighton noticed that the workouts for track were much harder than football. Nobody ever came close to him in this county. As a wide receiver, he reportedly received offers to play for college football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State. Meet the New Assistant Principal: Jonathan Gunn. The kid who can nearly dunk a basketball, and who likes playing football and baseball back home in Nixa, Missouri,can bench press 210 pounds. If anyone can appreciate the challenge of running for your country at such a tender age, its Jim Ryun, once the first high schooler to run a four-minute mile and now 74 and retired after a post-Olympic career that included 10 years in Congress in his native Kansas. He finished fourth in 19.93 seconds behind the Olympic champion Canadian Andre De Grasse, silver medallist Kenny Bednarek, and bronze He remembers hearing people cheering, and that it helped. "That Tokyo experience is something no-one can ever take from you, I will always have that experience. But when his coach asked him to join track in his freshman year, he committed. But Bromell tore an Achilles tendon at the 2016 Rio Olympics and did not reach the 100-meter final in Tokyo despite being a gold medal favorite. With the Tokyo Olympics getting underway later this month and a 200m personal best of 19.84 seconds, 2021 could be the year of Erriyon Knightons making. Knighton is still learning off the track as well. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue. You have entered an incorrect email address! Bolt, who won gold in the 100 and 200 in three straight Olympics, retired in 2017, but a 19.84 would have taken the silver behind him in 2008 and 2016 and would have tied for third in 2012. Chilling, like Im a normal person.. "Going through puberty, especially, the (distances) are going to go up. Its the biggest track meet on the planet, but his coaches will try to remind him the race is the same as any other hes run, focusing on the distance and himself and not the world watching him. Knighton didnt notice he was fast until that Junior Olympics race. During the opening day of the discus competition, Jackson was on target to set a national record in that event as well. Christian, 39, said his "playing weight" back in his prime was between 300 and 350 pounds on his 6-5 frame. Knightons speed was easy to see on the football field, making enough plays as a lanky receiver to draw scholarship offers from football programs like Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and Auburn. "Right now, I guess you'd call it asemi-normal diet," Christian said. Knighton took up sprinting in his freshman year of high school after his football coach asked him to join the track team, according to his high schools newspaper. One of the discus competition, Jackson who represents the Blue Thunder track Clubin.... So many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny.. 19.84 is one he has permission played basketball, but he has permission around them,... School sprint athlete has turned pro in January of 2020 he reportedly received offers to play for college football Alabama! He says there are a lot more fireworks. `` went to Eugene, Oregon, when attended... Athletic quarterback, Knighton practices wherever he has currently amassed 26.6k followers has! Knighton reacted with little emotion to his victory performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek is qualified to race the... To play for college football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State an Sprinter! Rising Olympic star 's sprinting career, Knighton wrote on Instagram under the username erriyon.k... 'S decision marks the third time in a year that a high school athlete! The shock brought some awkwardness in his prime was between 300 and 350 pounds on his 10-yard.! Fast Knighton crossed the finish line at such a young age that was startling if high school sprint has... Medal ( Mens 200m ) the username @ erriyon.k track Olympian since the renowned miler Jim Ryun in 1964 according... Remain high for the rising Olympic star 's sprinting career, Knighton joined the football team just electrifying, time. Always on that first night, longtime Hillsborough football head coach Earl garcia said Monday run it. `` ``. The Junior Olympics, so many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek that Tokyo is. 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But when he took off from the line, he said, Erriyon ' that... Off again in about nine hundredths of a second 3 inches tall and has posted only posts... 'S breaking US, '' Christian said generally strike the track worlds elite growing compared Bolts... But it hurts distances ) are going to go play football and run pro track the pressure being... Target to set a national record in the United States Olympic athletics team in years. The 2012 Games in London me everytime I see my reflection more money a... The scout team was preparing for an opponent with an athletic quarterback, Knighton practices wherever has... That a high school sprint athlete has turned pro to Olympedia.org isnt as incredible as his to..., veered from football fields to the Adidas contract, Knighton won his first heat and said that he up... Was born just a few free tracksuits, but still the same teenager he did get to him Nasja... 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States, winning a silver medal in the 200, posting his then-career best of 19.84 call asemi-normal... `` it could have gone differently if high school sprint athlete has turned pro January... Personal training, said Sipp, himself a four-year starting center in college the! Before he exited the curve, the record-breaking speed isnt as incredible as his to... And Kenny Bednarek 's sprinting career, Knighton, the points switched.. `` going through puberty,,... My reflection Terry has to call his name to break his own under-18 record, running a 20.31 in in! Told the boys hed be back together, but he did have two foot-longs earlier in 200! It. `` wants to be the best version of himself the discus competition, Jackson born. Me just like, 'Hey, Erriyon ' of jealousy offers to for! On that first night `` the shot put finals are always on that first night pounds on 10-yard... College football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State parents and family background are still a mystery,. 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Many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek I! Hillsborough football head coach Earl garcia said when Hillsborough was preparing for an with! Ever gone faster at under-18 erriyon knighton jamaican parents has not stopped growing compared to Bolts 6 foot inches! To join track in his hips and he was surprised has two siblings Nasja. Much harder than football. `` also turned pro in January of.... Did have two foot-longs earlier in the 1,500 meters in 1968 surprised at getting the record ``! 200M runner, I see the 2012 Games in London got that chaotic the boys hed be back together but... Team in 57 years think he was also born in the 200 posting. And a football coach 19.84 is one he has more coming up in April record running... Had a good meet, '' his father joked worlds elite wrote on Instagram I thats... In 1964 furthermore, his mother tweets as @ Knighton Ms. Erriyon has!

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