Erriyon Knighton isn’t just fast; he’s a track rebel rewriting the rulebook. At 17, this Tampa-born speedster smashed Usain Bolt’s under-20 200m record by clocking 19.84 seconds at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Later, he casually dropped a 19.49-second bomb in 2022 to become the fourth-fastest sprinter ever in the event. He also snagged a Tokyo Olympics spot as the youngest US male track athlete since 1964. While the speedster was on his high, he was accused of a doping scandal, which threatened to bench him. However, until investigators shrugged and said it was the contaminated meat that he had.

While his fans are often cheering for him, they really want to know: What’s up with his name? Is “Erriyon” low-key hinting at faith? And what’s the deal with his roots? If you too have the same curiosity, then without further due, let dive into it. 

What is Erriyon Knighton’s Ethnicity?

Erriyon Knighton was raised in Tampa, Florida, to American parents Eddie Murphy and Tamara Hood. His father, a former basketball player, and his mother, a constant pillar of support, raised him in a sports-loving household alongside his siblings, brother Quay and sister Nasja. While his family’s roots are firmly planted in Tampa, Knighton has kept specifics about his ethnic heritage private. Unlike many athletes who openly discuss cultural backgrounds, he’s stayed quiet on the topic, leaving fans to wonder.

Public records and interviews also offer no confirmed details about his ethnicity—and Knighton himself hasn’t addressed it. But what we know as of now is that his upbringing was all about grit and competition: He started as a high school football star before swapping cleats for spikes during the pandemic, a move that catapulted him into track history. Until he chooses to share more, speculation about his roots remains that he is an African-American. Respectfully, the focus stays on his speed—not his ancestry.

What is Erriyon Knighton’s Religion?

Erriyon Knighton’s faith is a bit of a mystery—but there are clues. In 2021, ARISE Church at Brandon, a Christian congregation in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, shouted him out on Facebook for making Olympic history as the youngest track qualifier. The post sparked curiosity about his ties to the church, but Knighton hasn’t confirmed anything.

While the nod from ARISE hints at a possible Christian connection, the sprint star has kept his beliefs under wraps. No prayers were posted, and there were no shoutouts to God in interviews—just pure focus on the track. Until he opens up, his religion stays in the “maybe” column. For now, fans respect the silence, letting his speed do the talking. And honestly? That’s kind of cool. In a world where athletes overshare everything, Knighton’s keeping his beliefs a secret.

Knighton speaks louder with his actions. And his recent showdown with Noah Lyles in the 400m at the 2025 Tom Jones Invitational is a witness to it. 

In other words, Knighton’s story is one of relentless drive, shaped by family support and a refusal to let setbacks derail his dreams. Whether fueled by faith, heritage, or sheer grit, he remains a symbol of modern sprinting’s evolving narrative—a phenom rewriting records while guarding his personal truths. As he gears up for the 2025 Diamond League season, fans will keep watching, not just for his times, but for the man behind the medals to reveal more of himself—on his own terms.