Erriyon Knighton has come a long way since he made headlines at 17 as the youngest man in 125 years to race in an individual Olympic track final. Fast forward four years to now, and at just 20 years old, he’s soared to become the fifth-fastest man in the 200-meter distance. Bagging the world silver in 2023 and bronze in 2022, plus snagging the US championship in 2023, he’s been on a meteoric rise in track and field.

Knighton himself sums it up: “Everybody has their time and place in a rivalry and I feel like just going on in the years, once I get older, it’s just going to be a movie every time we step on the track.” As he gears up for the 2024 US Olympic trials and all eyes are on him to clinch his second Olympic berth, let us get to know the man who’s been the wind beneath his wings, his coach Mike Holloway.

All about Erriyon Knighton’s coach, Mike Holloway

Mike Holloway, the head coach of men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country at the University of Florida, has been a major influence on Erriyon Knighton’s incredible journey. With over two decades at Florida, he’s snagged 13 NCAA championships, including the latest in 2023, and earned a spot in the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame back in 2016. Beyond college, he’s coached athletes to 11 Olympic medals from Grant Holloway, Taylor Manson, Kerron Clement, David Verburg, and others, and a dozen World Championship golds, making waves internationally.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he was the head coach for U.S. Track & Field, further solidifying his global impact. Personally, from Columbus, Ohio, Holloway graduated with a BA in History from UF in 2000. He’s married to Angela Fitts and they have two kids, Michele and Michael II (MJ), plus four grandkids. His coaching savvy has been pivotal in Knighton’s rise in the 200m and let us see how he has made an impact in his career.

Holloway played a pivotal role in shaping Knighton’s track and field career

Erriyon Knighton has acknowledged the influence of his coach, saying, “Coach Holloway has had a lot of great athletes. He understands what it feels like to have an athlete on the big stage, and he knows how to talk to them.” A significant moment of motivation from his coach, Holloway, came at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. After the top three finishers prepared to receive their medals, Knighton, who finished fourth, walked into a tunnel at the Olympic Stadium, overcome with emotion from missing a medal by just one spot.

Reflecting on that moment, Knighton shared how he was sad but couldn’t be too bothered since he was just starting his career. Holloway shared that he couldn’t be there in person that night but reached Knighton by phone. He told the then-17-year-old, “Look, man, remember how you feel. And remember, you don’t want to ever feel this way again. So every training session we do next year, remember how you feel right now and that you never want to feel this way again.” Since then, Knighton’s track record over the past four years speaks for itself.

Reflecting on the journey, it’s clear just how much of an impact Coach Mike Holloway has had on Erriyon Knighton’s life, making him a strong contender as he aims for his second Olympics. As we look back on this incredible partnership, what do you think about Erriyon Knighton’s chances at the 2024 US Olympic trials? Share your thoughts in the comments below!