Running News Daily

'It’s just going to be a movie'- Erriyon Knighton ready to spice up rivalry with Noah Lyles as he waits for right moment

Erriyon Knighton is focused on improving at his own pace, embracing future rivalries with top sprinters and promising it will be 'a movie' when the time is right.

World 200m silver medallist Erriyon Knighton is just awaiting the right time to make his rivalry with top sprinters like Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Letsile Tebogo spicy.

The 20-year-old is not under any form of pressure to deliver at the moment and in fact, he is taking his sweet time and enjoying himself.

He disclosed that speaking of the world record at this time would be unrealistic and he is just on the mission of chasing medals until the right opportunity presents itself.

In an interview with Reuters earlier this year, Knighton noted that he makes his own rules and works under his own terms, understanding that people will still want to talk and compare him with other stars.

"Until I get old ... there's still going to be comments like, 'the young phenom' or 'I did this at this age'," Knighton told Reuters.

"They were expecting me to break the world record when I was like 19, 20 years old. But in reality it's just not like that."

Speaking of Noah Lyles, Knighton insisted that people should stop with the comparisons since athletes are very different.

The former world 200m bronze medallist insisted that when the right time comes, he will achieve what he has always been working hard for but now they should give him time.

"He's doing his thing right now. Everybody has their time and place in a rivalry. And I feel like just going on in the years once I get older, you know, it's just going to be a movie every time we step on the track,” Knighton asserted.

"I'm just not at the point where I'm like at my best, but I'm getting better," said Knighton. "When I reach my best, then we can talk about the world records."

Knighton has faced a few setbacks including being suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit before being cleared to compete at the US Olympic trials where he finished third and secured a slot to the Paris Olympic Games.

In Paris, the American youngster narrowly missed out on the podium bracket with his fourth-place finish. Letsile Tebogo won the race as Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles came in second and third respectively.