The talk was already getting louder a year ago.
At just 17 years old - three years before he could’ve grabbed a Strong Zero from a local convenience store - Erriyon Knighton rocked up to the Tokyo Olympics with enormous expectations.
Standing at the starting blocks for the 200 metres, Australian commentary doyen Bruce McAvaney breathlessly told viewers: “Some say he’s the heir apparent to you know who.”
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No, not Voldemort. Usain Bolt.
Knighton breezed through the heats, easing up before the finish line, becoming the youngest man in an individual track Olympics final in 125 years. There, he ran a thrilling fourth, behind two of his compatriots Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles, plus gold-winner Andre de Grasse of Canada who ran a 19.62.
The result didn’t really matter, given Knighton’s age. He had clearly arrived.
But keep that gold-medal time in mind. Because late last month, at the LSU Invitational in the southern US state of Louisiana, he ran a 19.49.
Now 18 years old, Knighton recorded the fourth-fastest time in 200-metre history, behind only Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson... and Usain Bolt.
Bolt set the world record, a 19.19 which stands to this day, just before his 23rd birthday. As he was entering his physical prime.
This is why the hype is building around Knighton.
He had already run a 19.84 as a 17-year-old, faster than Bolt ever ran before becoming an adult.
Knighton’s 19.49, then, is almost half-a-second faster than Bolt’s previous under-20 world record.
He is doing things that nobody should be able to do at his age.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, former 200m world champion Ato Boldon called Knighton’s feat the equivalent of Bob Beamon breaking the long jump record by almost two feet.
“If one junior in history, who is considered the greatest sprinter of all time, has broken 20 (seconds), and now this kid is half a second - which is a lifetime in the sprints - faster, then yes,” he said.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is the most Beamon-esque junior performance that we have seen.”
And even Knighton is shocked with how quickly he is developing.
“I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know it was coming this early into the season,” he told NBC Sports.
“I also didn’t know that it was going to come this early in my career, either. I thought I was going to run 19.4 when I’m like, 20 or something, like when I get stronger and older.”
And Knighton isn’t planning to be a one-event specialist. Like Bolt, he also runs the 100 metres - his personal-best of 10.04 wasn’t enough to make the US team in Tokyo, though he would’ve made the semi-finals with it.
But clearly, as he develops his physical talents - and actually becomes, you know, an adult - he will improve on that time too.
“The goal is to be an all-around sprinter,” his coach Mike Holloway told the WSJ.
“The goal is to run the 100, the 200. He’ll line up and run a 400 on occasion as he gets older.”
By the time he gets to the 2024 Paris Games, he’ll be 20 years old - still a couple of years behind when Bolt set the 200m world record.
Bolt was winning gold medals at 30; Knighton will have three more Olympiads before hitting his thirties.
He won’t need three chances to earn his own gold.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of track and field, particularly in sprinting events, I can attest to the extraordinary nature of Erriyon Knighton's achievements and the implications they hold for the sport. The evidence presented in the article not only highlights his exceptional talent but also positions him as a remarkable figure in the lineage of sprinting greats.
Let's delve into the key concepts and notable figures mentioned in the article:
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Erriyon Knighton's Early Success:
- At just 17 years old, Knighton participated in the Tokyo Olympics, displaying enormous potential.
- He competed in the 200 meters, where he breezed through the heats, becoming the youngest man in an individual track Olympics final in 125 years.
- Despite finishing fourth, his performance marked a significant arrival on the international stage.
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Comparison to Usain Bolt:
- Knighton was referred to as the "heir apparent" to Usain Bolt, the legendary Jamaican sprinter.
- Bolt set the world record in the 200 meters with a time of 19.19, a record that still stands.
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Historic Time at LSU Invitational:
- At the LSU Invitational in Louisiana, Knighton, now 18 years old, ran an impressive 19.49 in the 200 meters.
- This time ranks as the fourth-fastest in the history of the 200 meters, placing him behind Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson, and the aforementioned Usain Bolt.
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Unprecedented Performance for his Age:
- Knighton's achievement is compared to Bob Beamon breaking the long jump record by almost two feet, emphasizing the rarity and significance of his accomplishment.
- Ato Boldon, a former 200m world champion, likens Knighton's feat to a Beamon-esque junior performance, highlighting the historical magnitude of his achievement.
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Future Goals and Versatility:
- Knighton expresses surprise at the rapid development of his skills and mentions his initial expectations of achieving a 19.4 time later in his career.
- Unlike being a one-event specialist, Knighton, inspired by Usain Bolt, plans to compete in multiple events, including the 100 meters and possibly the 400 meters as he gets older.
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Comparison of Age and Olympic Potential:
- Knighton's coach, Mike Holloway, outlines the goal of developing him into an all-around sprinter, participating in various sprinting events.
- The article looks ahead to the 2024 Paris Games, where Knighton will be 20 years old, comparing his age to when Bolt set the 200m world record and highlighting the potential for future Olympic success.
In conclusion, Erriyon Knighton's rapid rise in the sprinting world, his historic achievements at a young age, and the comparisons to legends like Usain Bolt underscore the exciting trajectory of his career. His versatility and the potential for improvement in various events set the stage for a promising future in the world of track and field.
