It’s been nearly a year, but the memory still feels fresh. Usain Bolt had the task of naming the young athlete who really caught his eye on the track. “I think he ran 19.40 something and he’s still like, he’s probably just turning 20. So he was pretty good”, Bolt said casually, clearly impressed but struggling to remember the name. Then it clicked—when he mentioned “Knight from States,” everything made sense.

Usain Bolt was actually talking about Erriyon Knighton — the Florida-born sprinting sensation. And yeah, the Jamaican legend had his reasons for picking Knighton’s name over big stars like Noah Lyles or Kenny Bednarek. Back on April 30, 2022, a 17-year-old Knighton clocked a blazing 19.49 seconds in the 200m at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium. To put that in perspective, Bolt ran 19.93 when he was 17. Even at 20, Bolt’s best was 19.75 — and Knighton, at the same age, ran just a hair slower at 19.77. That’s only 0.02 seconds off. Still not impressed? Here’s another wild stat — between ages 17 and 18, Knighton shaved a massive 0.35 seconds off his 200m time. Bolt didn’t even do that. But despite putting up those kinds of numbers, there’s a real chance Knighton won’t even make it to the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. Crazy, right?

According to a report by Citius Mag, Erriyon Knighton has only signed up for the men’s 200m at the upcoming 2025 US Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The entry window closes at midnight on Tuesday (July 22), so there’s still a bit of time — but for now, that’s the only event he’s going for. Here’s the deal: to punch his ticket to the Tokyo Worlds, the 21-year-old has to land a podium finish at Nationals. The problem? The men’s 200m field is absolutely stacked this year. It’s going to be a serious fight just to make the top three.

The 200m lineup at Nationals? It’s no joke. You’ve got the usual heavy hitters — Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Fred Kerley — all of whom have already clocked solid 200m times this season. Then there’s the wildcard: teenage star T’Mars McCallum, who’s coming in hot with a 19.73 and currently holds the world lead in the event. Meanwhile, Erriyon Knighton hasn’t even stepped on an outdoor 200m track this year. His only 200m attempt so far came indoors at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais, where he won — but the time? Just 20.54 seconds. Respectable, but nowhere near what the rest of these guys are throwing down.

The one thing working in Erriyon Knighton’s favor? He ended the Paris Olympic season on a high note — winning the men’s 200m in 19.93 seconds at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb. So yeah, he can show up when it counts. That said, there’s still a lot to watch for at the upcoming US Nationals. The field’s stacked, and Knighton hasn’t made much noise yet this year. But hey, let’s not forget what he’s done in the past — the kid’s got serious wheels when he’s on.

Usain Bolt’s chosen champion has had some fireworks on the track 

On The Obi One Podcast, Usain Bolt gave his vote of confidence to Knighton — even though he couldn’t quite remember his name. But hey, when it comes to spotting talent, Bolt’s got an eye for it. Here’s the evidence. 

Erriyon Knighton’s been making waves since he was a teenager. At just 17, he became the youngest U.S.-born man to compete in track and field at the Olympics since Jim Ryun back in 1964. Wild, right?

While still in high school, Knighton ran a blazing 20.11 in the 200m — breaking the world U-18 record. And then at the Olympic Trials that same summer? He broke his own record three times, first with a 20.04, then a 19.88, and finally a 19.84. The guy just kept getting faster. He’s smashed Usain Bolt’s U-20 record 13 times and now ranks as the fifth-fastest ever in the 200m, trailing only legends like Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Noah Lyles — who’s often edged him out in major finals. Still, Knighton’s got something pretty rare on his resume: back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the 200m final at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Not a medal yet — but not far off, either. And that makes the battle for Tokyo Worlds spicier.