Erriyon Knighton facts for kids
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Knighton at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 29, 2004 Jesup, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States |
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| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 meters, 200 meters | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | My Brother's Keeper Track Club | ||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Jonathan Terry and Mike Holloway | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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Erriyon Knighton, born on January 29, 2004, is a super-fast American runner. He specializes in short races like the 100 meters and 200 meters. At just 18 years old, he won a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. This made him the youngest person ever to win an individual sprint medal at the World Championships!
He holds the world record for runners under 18 in the 200 meters, with a time of 19.84 seconds. He also holds the world record for runners under 20, clocking 19.69 seconds. His personal best of 19.49 seconds makes him one of the fastest sprinters in history. Only a few legends like Usain Bolt have run faster. In 2022, Erriyon was named the "Male Rising Star of the Year" by World Athletics for the second time.
Contents
Erriyon Knighton's Running Journey
Starting Out in High School
Erriyon Knighton began his track and field journey in 2019. He was a freshman at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida. During this time, he ran the second-fastest 200 meters ever for an athlete under 18. He finished in 20.33 seconds at the 2020 USA Track & Field Junior Olympics.
Besides running, Erriyon was also a talented football player. He played as a wide receiver for his high school team. Many top colleges offered him scholarships to play football.
Becoming a Pro in 2021
When he was 16, Erriyon made a big decision. He signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas. This meant he would become a professional athlete. He decided to skip his last two years of high school sports.
In May 2021, he ran the 100 meters in 9.99 seconds. This was a super-fast time, but the wind was too strong for it to count as an official record.
Later that month, at age 17, he broke a record held by Usain Bolt. He ran the 200 meters in 20.11 seconds, setting a new world best for athletes under 18. He kept getting faster! At the US Olympic Trials, he broke Bolt's world record for under-20 athletes. He ran 19.88 seconds, then improved it to 19.84 seconds in the final. This amazing run qualified him for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Erriyon was the youngest male track and field athlete to represent the United States since 1964. He made it to the 200-meter final. He finished fourth with a time of 19.93 seconds.
Big Wins in 2022
On April 30, 2022, Erriyon ran an incredible 19.49 seconds in the 200 meters. This was an unofficial world junior record. He continued his great form at the USA Outdoor T&F Championships in June, running 19.69 seconds.
He then won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. This made him the youngest individual sprint medalist in the history of the World Championships. He also became the youngest person to win a Diamond League race, which is a series of top-level track and field competitions.
More Success in 2023
On July 9, 2023, Erriyon won his first senior national title. He triumphed in the 200 meters at the USA Outdoor T&F Championships. His winning time was 19.72 seconds.
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he earned another medal. He finished second in the 200-meter final with a time of 19.75 seconds. He was beaten by his rival, Noah Lyles.
By the end of 2023, Erriyon had run the 200 meters under 20 seconds 18 times. His top 10 fastest times are also the 10 best performances ever for an under-20 athlete in the 200 meters!
The 2024 Olympic Season
Erriyon started 2024 by winning his first indoor 200-meter race in France. At the US Olympic trials, he placed third in the 200 meters. This earned him a spot on the team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
At the Paris Olympic Games, Erriyon easily won his first race. He also won his semi-final, even after a small stumble near the finish line. In the final, he finished fourth with a time of 19.99 seconds. He just missed out on a medal.
Achievements and Records
Personal Best Times
These are Erriyon Knighton's fastest times in different races.
| Distance | Time (s) | Wind | Location | Date | Notes |
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| 100 meters | 10.04 | -0.1 m/s | Gainesville, FL, U.S. | April 16, 2022 | |
| 9.98 w | +2.1 m/s | Gainesville, FL, U.S. | April 1, 2023 | This time was helped by strong wind. | |
| 150 meters | 14.85 | +1.4 m/s | Atlanta, GA, U.S. | May 6, 2023 | |
| 200 meters | 19.49 | +1.4 m/s | Baton Rouge, LA, U.S. | April 30, 2022 | This is the fastest time for an under-20 athlete in North, Central American and Caribbean history. |
| 200 meters (indoor) | 20.21 | - | Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (FRA) | February 10, 2024 | |
| 400 meters | 46.15 | - | Gainesville, FL, U.S. | April 15, 2023 | |
| Records for Young Athletes | |||||
| 200 meters | 19.84 | +0.3 m/s | Eugene, OR, U.S. | June 27, 2021 | This is the world's best time for an athlete under 18. |
| 19.69 | -0.3 m/s | Eugene, OR, U.S. | June 26, 2022 | This is the world record for an athlete under 20. | |
Results at Major International Competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 4th | 200 m | 19.93 | |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, OR, United States | 3rd | 200 m | 19.80 | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 2nd | 200 m | 19.75 | |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 4th | 200 m | 19.99 |
Big Race Wins (Circuit Wins)
Erriyon has won several important races in major track and field series:
- Diamond League
- 2022 (200 m): Brussels Memorial Van Damme
- 2023 (200 m): Golden Gala (Florence), Bislett Games
- World Athletics Continental Tour
- 2022 (200 m): Gyulai István Memorial
- 2023 (200 m): Irena Szewinska Memorial
- 2024 (200 m): Zagreb Hanžeković Memorial
National Championships Results
These are Erriyon's results at the main US track and field championships.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Wind (m/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | U.S. Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | 200 m | 19.84 | +0.3 | World under-18 best |
| 2022 | USATF Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 200 m | 19.69 | −0.3 | World under-20 record |
| 2023 | USATF Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 1st | 200 m | 19.72 | −0.1 | Season's best time |
| 2024 | U.S. Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | 200 m | 19.77 | +0.5 | Season's best time |
Awards and Recognition
Erriyon Knighton has received special awards from World Athletics:
- World Athletics Awards
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- Rising Star (Men)：2021, 2022
See also
In Spanish: Erriyon Knighton para niños
