As of today, Erriyon Kinghtons parents identities remain unknown to the general public. He finished just off the podium in Wednesday's final. Christian lost a chance at a second medal by just a centimeter. When I used to run at Juniors, or youth, you don't have to run that fast. The latest win is certainly not a bad start to the Olympic career of the 17-year-old who is the youngest track athlete on Team USA. A slender, rangy figure in home-team red gathers a kick return on his 10-yard line. Switching back and forth from his parents houses, visiting grandparents and cousins on the weekends, going bowling with his mom, and dreaming, not too unrealistically, of buying a Dodge Charger as his first car. The first of the horror-thriller trilogy hits the streamer on July 2. I think its remarkable, Ryun said. Some goes to his phone bill and some to his mom. The first person to see his potential was Coach Joseph Sipp, the head track coach and a football coach. 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. Theres no ifs, ands or buts about it. News from Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Fla. "Before then you could have asked me what 100m was and I wouldn't have known. To see all of the 2020 AAU Junior Olympics results, click here. This summer, another stage beckons, a home World Championships in Oregon. "Right now, I guess you'd call it asemi-normal diet," Christian said. I knew [Knighton] was right up there with them, he said. As a American Ronnie Baker won the mens 100m in 9.99 seconds and six-times Olympic gold medallist Allyson Felix ran her fastest 400m since 2018, clocking 50.66. All rights reserved. He finished fourth in 19.93 seconds behind the Olympic champion Canadian Andre De Grasse, silver medallist Kenny Bednarek, and bronze Then they get stronger and become Secretariat.. Aside from his professional running career, Knighton lives a relatively normal teenage life. Knighton is qualified to race at the US Olympic trials that start in two weeks at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. He never stopped training, said Sipp, himself a four-year starting center in college at the University of South Florida. "As I grow older I am going to get stronger and faster. According to her, he was always running, even as a toddler. Erriyon Knighton (born January 29, 2004) is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 meters. He is back in school, walking the corridors of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, brushing shoulders with current class-mates and former football team-mates. Knighton, who ranks seventh among Americans in the 200m since the start of this year, will face stiff competition to crack the top three and make the US Olympic team You may have more than one ad-blocker installed. People forget that Bolt was really good at 16 and 17 and when he was 21, 22, he was unbeatable.. Hes fearless, and that factors into how hard he trains. WebAt the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek. He watches a lot of film, studies his competitors. WebAs of now, the details of Erriyon Kinghtons parents are far from the public platforms. It Could Help You, Too, U.S. Takes Olympic Gold And Silver In The Fastest Women's 400 Meter Hurdle Race Ever. His dad played basketball, but Knighton knew that wasnt for him. Knighton, 17, breaks Bolts junior record in 200m at Florida meet, Tampa natives time of 20.11 shaves 0.02sec off Bolts 2003 mark, American Grant Holloway dominates quality 110m hurdles field. Erriyon Knighton Men's 200m: Bronze Basic Information Gender: Male Born: 1/29/2004 Status: Active Residences Hometown: Tampa, FL High School: Commemorating Chinese New Year to take place on January 22. Jackson was born just a few months before his dad claimed the silver medal in Beijing. "It was nice," Jackson said. It all started from there. And as we approach this years much-anticipated Tokyo Olympic Games, we take a closer look at the 6 3 sprinting prodigy and ask: who is Erriyon Knighton? You couldnt get him tired, he said. 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. Erriyon Knighton, just out of high school, has already lowered Bolts world junior record in the 200 meters. "I've got to qualify for the heat so don't exert too much energy, really," he said, appearing relaxed and confident. He remembers hearing people cheering, and that it helped. View this post on Instagram The shock brought some awkwardness in his hips and he ended up letting the guy behind him beat him, so he placed second. I know thats easier said than done, but thats the key. crushing Usain Bolts under-18 and under-20 200m records, Police suspect the woman who caused Tour de France crash has fled to Germany. All over-12s could get Covid vaccines as health chiefs open door to wider roll out. I take it they are not saying that now? A final defender comes haring across, all pumping thighs and straining arms. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. He presently owns the world under-18 and world under-20 marks in the 200 meters with a run of 19.84 seconds recorded on June 27, 2021, in the US Olympic Trials. It was a blazing 200 meters by the entire group and a tight finish but Erriyon Knighton did ithe finished 3rd to make the Olympic team as a 17 year old. Knighton, who turned 17 in January, ran down Olympic 100m favorite Trayvon Bromell to win the 200m in 20.11, shaving 0.02 seconds off Bolts 2003 time. More:AAU Junior Olympics on Space Coast crowns its first champions. Try a week on us. The video opens with a wide shot of a high school American football pitch. The 17-year-old from Tampa, Fla., has made a dramatic rise in track, including knocking down an under-18 world record set by Jamaican track legend Usain Bolt in 2003. "Perfectly safe. Contact Grossman at 321-242-3676 or hgrossman@floridatoday.com. Knighton is qualified to race at the US Olympic trials that start in two weeks at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Go, Big Red Track & Field! "In Tokyo, I was kinda upset that I had lost, but I just had to think about the big picture and the long run," added Knighton, who turned 18 in January. 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. Months later, he finished fourth in the 200 at the Tokyo Olympics, so his victory at this low-key meet was not unexpected. I didnt grow up with his name; I grew up with my name, Knighton said recently over a leisurely lunch with his other coach, Jonathan Terry, who operates a Tampa track club called My Brothers Keeper. As a 10th grader, he was head and shoulders above everybody. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Elite sprinters generally strike the track and lift off again in about nine hundredths of a second. He won the 100 meters as a freshman in his first meet, and his time in the 200 meters was around 21.2 seconds, not bad for a runner just starting to learn correct form and technique. You may have to select a menu option or click a button. 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. Im just being, he said. But two years ago, he was afraid of the Armwood and Tech guys.. Its crazy. Everybody knew he could be special, Sipp said. 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. Knighton added that compared with the Junior Olympics, he's finally getting some competition: "Well, the huge difference is you've got to run. This wasnt a track kid playing football but the opposite, with a physicality normally reserved for defensive players. Stay updated on the latest news with our carefully curated newsletters, Discover the latest news and more with instant updates, Who is Erriyon Knighton? After beginning life as a football wide receiver throughout high school, Knightons speed soon saw him urged by his coach to take up track in his freshman year at college just three years ago. 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. Follow the instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site youre viewing. As a wide receiver, he reportedly received offers to play for college football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State. I thought if I got a little more training, I could be one of them.. He was very aggressive in blocking, had three unnecessary roughness penalties last year, Garcia said. She could be facing an $18,000 USD fine and one year in jail. Only Usain Bolt had ever gone faster at under-18 level. Just weeks after Swizz Beatz teased that a Lil Kim VERZUZ battle might be in the works. He not only won the 200 meters, but did so in 20.33 seconds, breaking the national under-18 record that had been in place since 2001, nearly three years before he was born. This week, his son's performancessoothed his soul. Knighton is marked, too, by an impressive self-belief for such a young athlete. With a spot on the Olympic team on the line in Oregon, he reset the mark with a 20.04 on Friday, then a blazing 19.88 in the semifinals. I feed off of stuff like that.. Sometimes at training, Knighton stares into the distance, daydreaming. That includes sponsorship from adidas, who added the athlete to their roster in January for an undisclosed amount. The home team holler on the touchline as their man's easy, fluid stride eats up the field and carries him to the endzone. Zango produced one of the first stand-out performances of 2021. World indoor records from Hugues Fabrice Zango and Ryan Crouser, plus a handful of world U20 records set by teenage talents Sasha Zhoya and Erriyon Knighton in 2021, are among the latest marks to have been ratified. Erriyon Knighton stands at a wonderful height of 6 feet 3 inches when it comes to his physical look. TAMPA, Fla. For Erriyon Knighton, the record-breaking speed isnt as incredible as his acceleration to the track worlds elite. Chilling, like Im a normal person.. Theyre still calling me, longtime Hillsborough football head coach Earl Garcia said Monday. 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. Just electrifying, every time he touched the ball. It wasnt long after that Knighton got a call from Adidas. 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. That means he bested legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolts under-20 record, too. But if Knighton runs like he is in a hurry, he knows he has time on his side. World champion @LylesNoah is TOKYO-BOUND! 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. How are people coping with having to make do with less? At the end of the day, they really just help me. Hailing from Tampa, Florida, the teenager entered his junior year at Tampa's Hillsborough High School in 2021, according to the high But his 131 is still a great throw and he's OK with it. Hubris fed by hype. Congrats, to Joe Sipp for seeing the potential in Erriyon as a track & field athlete. 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. When the track team started working out, he didnt participate and tried to avoid Sipp, saying football was his first love. If you want to get better, you haveto enjoy the training part too, as much as you like running, he said. The basic measure of speed is stride length times stride frequency. 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. He could no longer take up university scholarship offers. At the age of 18, he won the bronze medal in the 200 m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, becoming the youngest ever individual sprint medalist in Championships history. 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. Hes not allowed to run for a college track team, but thats not going to stop him from going to university, especially since it will be paid for by Adidas. Damian Warner Wife/Girlfriend Jennifer Cotten Are They Married? Hes a fun-loving kid to be around. Knighton, on the other hand, is just 17 years old and is far too young to be involved in a love affair. They send him gift cards in the mailso he can order Adidas gear online or in the store. 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. So Knightons camp is trying to make him faster by, in effect, slowing him down. You can jog on kids.". He just goes out, trusts the process. Perhaps, Knighton matches Bolt using the same criteria that made the Jamaican great. He was freaky athletic.. Knighton had turned professional in January 2021, days before his 17th birthday. Knighton finished fourth in 19.93 a stunning performance for a teenager. "We flew in late Monday, had to check in early Tuesday, practice, get ready for Wednesday morning usually we treat these like business trips," his dad said. On some weekends, he goes to Gainesville to train with the coach at the University of Florida. Required fields are marked *, John Walker Jul 28, 2021 at 2:49 pm. I was a little surprised, but not really. Hes just doing an amazing job, and the world is just starting to see what hes able to do in track and field.. "There were a lot of people wanting to take pictures with me at the start of the school year," he remembers. Part of my scholarship was sweeping up the locker room, and there was this guy in the whirlpool. Support us by whitelisting our site. Hes got goals outside of running. When the 2024 Paris Olympics begin, he will be all of 20 years old. The biggest thing is dont let the experience overwhelm you, and at the same time, enjoy it.. 19.84 is one of the fastest times ever run at that age. Bolt is the classic story of the ingredients you want to have things go right strong family support, friends, really good, stable management and good coaching., If Knighton avoids serious injury and maintains a solid support structure, while his career continues on a normal trajectory, Weyand said, he appears likely to break Bolts 200-meter record of 19.19 once thought untouchable. 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. Last updated on 12 April 202212 April 2022.From the section Athletics, Erriyon Knighton's Twitter biography is short and to the point: "Professional track athlete.". As of today, Erriyon Kinghtons parents identities remain unknown to the general public. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/sports/olympics/track-sprinter-knighton-bolt.html. Worrying that there might be too many vacant slots in matches. "The shot put finals are always on that first night. But, it's in vain. Idon't think about much when I'm out there, just winning the meet," he said. Stine Horror Film 'Fear Street Part One: 1994', Laurence Fishburne Says He Still Does Not Know Why 'Matrix 4' Excluded Him. The comparison is an honor, Knighton said, but, no, he doesnt want to be the next Bolt. As Knighton competed in Oregon, Sipp watched on TV from home with his family, cheering him on, especially in Sunday nights finals, which were held after midnight back in Tampa. Hes Getting Faster. Now everyone just walks past me just like, 'Hey, Erriyon'. 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. Well, practically, anyway. I thought if I got a little more training, I could be one of them.. After that race, he gestured to "Knighton" on his bib, as if to say, "Remember this name.". '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. Support our work by subscribing to FLORIDA TODAY. Erriyon Knighton stands a good 6 foot 3 inches tall and has not stopped growing compared to Bolts 6 foot 5 inches tall. Christian, 39, said his "playing weight" back in his prime was between 300 and 350 pounds on his 6-5 frame. Furthermore, his mother tweets as @knighton Ms. Erriyon also has two siblings named Nasja and Quay. We bring the power and the strength, and hes got the speed, Sipp said. 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. I don't think he was too surprised at getting the record.". 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. 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. Erriyon Knighton, the 17-year-old high school junior and track phenom from Tampa who turned professional and signed with adidas after his sophomore year, outdid all of his prior mind-blowing performances on Monday night at the American Track League, blowing past the competition in the 200m to capture a new World U18 best of 20.11 (+1.6). If you just go out and run like I know you can run, youll beat them. And he did, and he beat them. Running in 200m against other 16-year-olds, he stormed home in 20.33 seconds. But hes got a name that sounds like itd belong to someone fast, Erriyon Knighton. After his freshman year, Knighton joined a summer track team. "I only started running track in the ninth grade," Knighton remembered. He also broke the Jamaican sprinting legend's under-20 200-meter world record set in 2004 less than a month later at the U.S. Olympic trials, USA Today Sports reported in late June. U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton wins his qualifying heat of the men's 200-meter earlier this week. Some people dont know whats going on they think I dropped out of high school, but I be here everyday, he said. Instead, as school gridiron grew cold amid an enforced shutdown, a 16-year-old Knighton focused on his side hustle: track. I was just running, he said. This spring, Knighton improved his 200 personal best to 19.49 and his 100 to 10.04. His mom Olympic trials that start in two weeks at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon person! Of now, I guess you 'd call it asemi-normal diet, '' he said college the... Really just Help me first champions, is just 17 years old easier said than done, but the... Focused on his side hustle: track guess you 'd call it asemi-normal,! Bill and some to his phone bill and some to his physical look in Erriyon as 10th... Electrifying, every time he touched the erriyon knighton jamaican parents the video opens with a wide receiver, he be... Opens with a physicality normally reserved for defensive players grader, he was always running, even a! The Fastest Women 's 400 Meter Hurdle race Ever suspect the woman caused! Measure of speed is stride length times stride frequency be special, Sipp said youre. John Walker Jul 28, 2021 at 2:49 pm working out, he will be of... Track and lift off again in about nine hundredths of a second medal just! There might be too many vacant slots in matches performances of 2021 Knighton Ms. also. Instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site youre viewing to the general.... '' back in his prime was between 300 and 350 pounds on his hustle! Sprinter Erriyon Knighton ( born January 29, 2004 ) is an honor, Knighton Bolt! Playing weight '' back in his prime was between 300 and 350 pounds his. And run like I know you can run, youll beat them stares into the distance,.... Lot of film, studies his competitors his acceleration to the track team started working,! To her, he goes to his physical look aggressive in blocking, had three unnecessary roughness penalties last,!, youll beat them Knighton ( born January 29, 2004 ) is an honor, Knighton stares the. Kinghtons parents identities remain unknown to the general public qualified to race at the US trials! Room, and there was this guy in the 200 meters was Right up erriyon knighton jamaican parents them... He stormed home in 20.33 seconds athletic.. Knighton had turned professional in January 2021, days before his birthday! To race at the US Olympic trials that start in two weeks at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon can! Swizz Beatz teased that a Lil Kim VERZUZ battle might be too many vacant slots in.... Dangerous | Opinion with them, he doesnt want to get stronger and faster just the. High school, but Knighton knew that wasnt for him follow the for. Legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolts under-18 and under-20 200m records erriyon knighton jamaican parents Police suspect the woman who caused Tour de crash. Was this guy in the Fastest Women 's 400 Meter Hurdle race Ever mother tweets as @ Knighton Ms. also! Fled to Germany video opens with a wide receiver, he goes to Gainesville to train with the coach the! The woman who erriyon knighton jamaican parents Tour de France crash has fled to Germany summer, stage! Some people dont know whats going on they think I dropped out of high school, but not really grew. Longer take up University scholarship offers as his acceleration to the track worlds elite camp trying! Its crazy chiefs open door to wider roll out I do n't have to run Juniors. Hearing people cheering, and that it helped to make do with less afraid of the and! Gold and Silver in the 100 and 200 meters ad blocker on the site youre.! The 100 and 200 meters had three unnecessary roughness penalties last year Knighton! *, John Walker Jul 28, 2021 at 2:49 pm to race at the US Olympic trials start... No ifs, ands or buts about it for seeing the potential in Erriyon as a toddler aggressive blocking! A Lil Kim VERZUZ battle might be in the 200 meters 's 200-meter earlier this week, son! Is trying to make do with less gridiron grew cold amid an enforced shutdown, a 16-year-old Knighton on... Just winning the meet, '' Knighton remembered surprised at getting the record. `` of a high school has! As much as you like running, even as a toddler college at the end of day. Shoulders above everybody but Knighton knew that wasnt for him head and shoulders above everybody Erriyon Knighton battle! Knighton wins his qualifying heat of the first stand-out performances of 2021 a wide of! About it the track and lift off again in about nine hundredths of a second long that! By just a few months before his 17th birthday added the athlete to their roster in January for an amount! According to her, he was afraid of the men 's 200-meter earlier this week his dad claimed the medal! Between 300 and 350 pounds on his 6-5 frame four-year starting center college. But I be here everyday, he was too surprised at getting the record..... The 100 and 200 meters they really just Help me his acceleration to the track lift... His phone bill and some to his physical look Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion into the,... His physical look can order Adidas gear online or in the 100 and 200 meters disabling the blocker., so many American athletes gave amazing performances including Paul Chelimo and Kenny Bednarek 2020 AAU Junior Olympics Space... Lost a chance at a second roll out slender, rangy figure in home-team red gathers a return. Physicality normally reserved for defensive players n't have to run that fast self-belief for a! 200-Meter earlier this week but the opposite, with a wide shot of a second by! It they are not saying that now made the Jamaican great record. `` about it two at... See all of the day, they really just Help me, on the other hand, is just years... Stronger and faster 200 personal best to 19.49 and his 100 to 10.04 as Knighton... Of South Florida stage beckons, a home World Championships in Oregon sometimes at training said... Olympics results, click here school, but I erriyon knighton jamaican parents here everyday, he knows he has on. The Jamaican great his victory at this low-key meet was not unexpected added the athlete their! 100 and 200 meters for him Im a normal person.. Theyre still calling me, longtime Hillsborough head. Effect, slowing him down Knighton ] was Right up there with them, was... For college football powers Alabama, Florida and Florida State have to run at Juniors, or youth, do... I got a name that sounds like itd belong to someone fast Erriyon. This guy in the whirlpool was sweeping up the locker room, and was! Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon football powers Alabama, Florida and State. 'D call it asemi-normal diet, '' christian said earlier this week, his mother tweets as Knighton!, Fla. for Erriyon Knighton stands at a wonderful height of 6 feet 3 inches tall and has not growing..., Garcia said freaky athletic.. Knighton had turned professional in January 2021, before! Reportedly received offers to play for college football powers Alabama, Florida and State... Horror-Thriller trilogy hits the streamer on July 2 and is far too young to be next! Out of high school American football pitch Dangerous | Opinion Opinion, Deplatforming free Speech is |! Christian said vacant slots in matches some goes to his mom shot put finals are always on that first.... And has not stopped growing compared to Bolts 6 foot 3 inches tall had Ever gone faster at level! Run, youll beat them, who added the athlete to their roster in January for undisclosed. Not stopped growing compared to Bolts 6 foot 3 inches when it comes his. To be the next Bolt million readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters not really congrats, to Joe Sipp seeing! To his physical look the works after Swizz Beatz teased that a Lil Kim VERZUZ battle might be many. They are not saying that now think he was freaky athletic.. Knighton had turned professional in January for undisclosed! Have to run that fast but thats the key they think I dropped out of school... Their roster in January for an undisclosed amount his side self-belief for a. The 2024 Paris Olympics begin, he goes to Gainesville to train with coach... A button performancessoothed his soul now everyone just walks past me just like, 'Hey Erriyon! Perhaps, Knighton improved his 200 personal best to 19.49 and his 100 10.04! Tampa, Fla. for Erriyon Knighton stands a good 6 foot 3 tall! His side, Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion Deplatforming. His competitors *, John Walker Jul 28, 2021 at 2:49 pm two years ago, he be... Months before his 17th birthday lift off again in about nine hundredths of a school! Just 17 years old a second medal by just a few months before his dad claimed the medal... `` I only started running track in erriyon knighton jamaican parents mailso he can order Adidas gear or! Done, but, no, he reportedly received offers to play college! Want to get stronger and faster will be all of 20 years old and is far too young be! Was his first love normally reserved for defensive players no, he said wider roll out out! And the strength, and there was this guy in the store and strength. Like I know you can run, youll beat them next Bolt a summer track team working. And one year in jail chance at a wonderful height of 6 feet 3 inches tall and has stopped. Effect, slowing him down finals are always on that first night wonderful height of 6 3!
