Erriyon Knighton is on track to become the next big track star. Still only 19 years old, Knighton has already broken Usain Bolt’s 18-year-old under-20 world record in the 200m discipline. Last year, the American prodigy ran 19:49 in the under-20 200m and bested Bolt’s 19:93. Not just this, Knighton also smashed another Usain Bolt record and set a new world record in the under-18 200m. Back in 2021, Knighton ran the U-18 200m even in 19.84 seconds as compared to Bolt’s earlier world record of 20.13 seconds.

Despite being constantly compared to Usain Bolt, Knighton maintains that he still has a long way to go in the sport. This was reiterated through one of Knighton’s recent social media posts, which highlights his humbleness despite a successful 2023 World Athletics Championships campaign in Budapest.

Erriyon Knighton posts heartfelt update on Instagram

At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Erriyon Knighton went head to head against fellow teammate Noah Lyles in the men’s 200m event. Lyles was aiming to break Bolt’s 200m record while Knighton was determined to put up a strong fight against his teammate. Noah Lyles eventually ended up dominating the 200m event with a time of 19.51 seconds. Following suit was Knighton, who secured the silver medal in 19.75 seconds, an upgrade from his last year’s bronze medal in the same event. Despite his impressive 200m run, Knighton remains as calm and humble as ever, as he recently uploaded a host of pictures on Instagram.

He accompanied the post with the caption, “I been focused but l’m steady climbing, I’m nowhere near my peak.” This can also be related to his gradual upward trajectory as he has progressed from a fourth to bronze and now to a silver medal finish in the last three of his major championship tournaments. But come tomorrow, Knighton is getting another chance to win the 200m event against Noah Lyles. Both talented athletes will be facing each other in the 2023 Zurich Diamond League and will also be joined by Canada’s Andre De Grasse and Zharnel Hughes, among others. However, Zurich will not only witness the men’s events but also feature the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson.

Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson to meet again in Zurich

Sha’Carri Richardson won the women’s 100m world champion crown against her Jamaican rival, Shericka Jackson in Budapest. When the two faced off again in the women’s 200m, it was Jackson who got the better of Richardson. Now Richardson will look to defend her 100m title at Zurich in the upcoming Diamond League. However, this time around, Jackson has decided to skip the 100m event and focus on the 200m, an event in which she is the world’s second fastest woman. It remains to be seen if Jackson can finally break Florence Griffith Joyner’s record of 21.34 seconds in Zurich after improving her own personal best in Budapest.

As for Erriyon Knighton, the budding track star continues to learn and better himself with each championship meet. His fans will be eagerly awaiting his triumph at the upcoming Diamond League and then again at next year’s Paris Olympics.

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