Erriyon Knighton and Letsile Tebogo: The true rising stars of global sprinting 

I discovered Deji Ogeyinbgo’s ideas on these two very good athletes thought-provoking, and I consider you’ll as nicely! 

Erriyon Knighton and Letsile Tebogo: The true rising stars of world sprinting 

When Erriyon Knighton picked up the gong for his second World Athletics Rising Star award, there have been few whispers about his eligibility for the award, however simply as he was deserving of it, there was a definite chance the likes of Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo and Jamaica’s Jumper Jaydon Hibbert may as nicely have gained it, and it gained’t have brought on a lot controversy. 

Knighton appears the extra established star, contemplating he popped up shortly earlier than the Olympics in Tokyo and completed within the Prime 5 of the boys’s 200m. However with reference to Sprinting and their achievements within the grand scheme of issues, there was little or no to separate them this yr. 

This yr, his main highlights had been successful 200m bronze on the World Athletics Championships in Oregon and changing into the youngest particular person medallists in a males’s occasion in World Championship historical past.

For Tebogo this yr, he twice broke the Beneath-20 world document for 100 meters earlier this yr – first together with his time of 9.94 seconds on the World Championships, then just a few weeks later when he ran 9.91 seconds on the U20 World Championships.

The fact is a totally match Knighton is unquestionably going to take over the 200m for the subsequent couple of years, whereas Tebogo will go on and break data in years to return over the 100m. However like each prodigy who’ve emerged with glowing suggestions on the Youth and Junior degree, going to dominate could be a herculean process. 

The fantastic thing about our sport is knowing the place stats ought to finish and evaluating athletes utilizing the eye-test standpoint. These athletes know the way arduous it’s to maintain brilliance. It’s robust sufficient to show a run of constructive performances into a superb season. To go on and do it for a decade in probably the most aggressive of dash occasions whereas additionally successful laurels will probably be nothing in need of astounding. 

Apparently, Tebogo enjoys the longer sprint occasion, greater than 100m, and his goal is to affix the sub-20 membership. He was upset when he completed second behind Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike within the 200m final yr in Kenya, however in his quest to reclaim the title in 2022, he misplaced out to Israel’s Blessing Akwasi Afrifah at this yr’s U20 Championships in Cali, Columbia. 

It was at that Championship he grew to become a family title, establishing him as some of the thrilling prospects in monitor and area – not solely due to the convenience with which he appeared to tug away from the opposite rivals but in addition due to his untimely celebrations about 20 meters earlier than the end line. As he gestured to his proper aspect and wagged his finger in delight, harking back to Bolt’s successful signature on the Beijing Olympics, Tebogo immediately grew to become the discuss of the athletics world.

This can be a Tebogo who had difficulties rising up and never having the not-so-ideal nurturing method Knighton had, alongside having to navigate the rigours of not having the perfect coaches. A sure sprinting nice shares similarities in how he moved camp to affix Glen Mills in 2006, and like they are saying, the remaining is historical past. 

This yr although, we’ve got seen how squidgy they are often.  Again and again, Knighton and Tebogo obtained unpicked by Noah Lyles and the likes of Simbine when it mattered most on the world championships – Is it a sample that may get higher as they age? We’d by no means know. All of it is dependent upon how they navigate the trials of potential defeats and the stress of staying on the prime of the rankings. 

No matter the results of the athletics rising star award, it’s fairly apparent that each sprinters deserved to win it. It’s equally clear that it isn’t attainable as Knighton obtained it will definitely as a result of he has the blessed luck of being nurtured in the most effective nations for an upstart in monitor and in addition having the benefit of trying as much as a few of the greatest which have executed it within the sport. There isn’t sufficient peroxide on the planet.

Past their upbringing, each sprinters share a few similarities with how they execute their race. In full flight on an athletics monitor, each sprinters are photos of composure; their lengthy, floating stride and straightforward working kind information them to document occasions on the junior circuit.

When subsequent season comes round, there will probably be a complete lot extra occurring than Knighton vs. Tebogo, and but the thoughts – and naturally, in most races – will probably be drawn again there, repeatedly. The gorgeous prodigious abilities shaping the world of sprinting.

A suggestion: the one purpose each Knighton and Tebogo aren’t already considered the perfect sprinters on the planet is that everyone’s a bit involved that it would nonetheless be Lyles and Fred Kerley. Clearly, each a part of that assertion will be argued with, however hopefully, it feels a little bit bit true. However if you happen to use the attention check to evaluate, you might need a special opinion. 

Past the rankings, the distinction in kinds makes this so fascinating: not only a sprinting contest however a meditation on what it means to start out over once more and what it takes to grow to be the perfect and dominate the sprinting world.