The World Athletics Relays were meant to be a stepping stone for teams aiming to secure their spots at the upcoming World Championships, but for Team USA, it turned into a dramatic mix of highs and lows. One of the most shocking moments came during the men’s 4x100m relay heats, when a fumbled baton exchange between Jada Mowatt and Kendal Williams abruptly ended their medal hopes. That single error cost them a shot at the final, which saw Canada surge to gold in a stunning upset, with Jamaica and Great Britain taking silver and bronze. But what if Erriyon Knighton had been there?
The 21-year-old American sprint star, known for his explosive performances in the 100m and 200m, was expected to join the relay team. Fans were buzzing with confusion when his name, announced by USATF, never made it to the final roster. For a moment, speculation ran wild. Was he injured? Was there a deeper issue? Nope, it came down to something as simple and frustrating as paperwork, which was recently revealed by a former track and field athlete.
Track & Field content creator Anderson Emerole, host of The Final Leg on YouTube, cleared up the mystery. He revealed that Knighton’s Chinese visa arrived extremely late, just a day before he was supposed to fly out, as relays were held at Guangzhou, China. “He would’ve landed one day before he was supposed to race,” Emerole explained. “It just didn’t make sense logistically for him to fly all that way, not get enough rest, deal with jet lag, and then try to race. Not worth it.”
That kind of last-minute travel could’ve seriously impacted his performance and potentially the team’s chemistry on the track. So while fans were left wondering what could’ve been, the reality is clear: Erriyon Knighton’s absence wasn’t a choice; it was circumstance. And with his talent, there’s no doubt he could’ve helped shift the narrative for Team USA.
But for now, the relay remains a “what-if” story, one fumble, one missing piece, and a gold that slipped through their fingers. But the question arises, why did he miss the Adidas Atlanta City Games?
Erriyon Knighton’s DNS shocker at the Atlanta City Games
Erriyon Knighton was one of the biggest names expected to light up the track at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in Piedmont Park, but when the 100m heats began, he was a no-show. The 21-year-old sprint star had been spotted at warm-ups the day before, so when his name showed up as a DNS (did not start), fans were left scratching their heads.
That confusion was cleared up thanks to Track & Field analyst Anderson Emerole, who broke it all down on The Final Leg YouTube channel: “Arion Knighton was a DNS and did not start in the 100 heats. That raised a whole question: what’s going on with Arion Knighton?” And according to Emerole, the reason wasn’t injury or travel; it was a simple, frustrating case of miscommunication.
“I was here the day before just yesterday, actually seeing him at practice, at warm-up and all that. But what happened?” Emerole said. “Unfortunately, there was just a mix-up with the time. He thought he was supposed to run later—or just didn’t understand the full schedule.” Knighton was warming up at the exact moment the 100-meter sprinters were lining up to race. By the time he realized it, the opportunity was gone.
Still, there was a silver lining: Erriyon Knighton is healthy and unharmed. “The good thing is that he is healthy,” Emerole added. “It’s fine, just a miscalculation in terms of timing.” Since both Noah Lyles and Knighton were not present, Akani Simbine was the winner. So, Akani is now one of the top athletes before heading to the World Championships in Tokyo.
Still, having him miss Atlanta doesn’t slow his progress for the season. With the World Championships in Tokyo taking place in just a few months, Knighton can very well make a name for himself.
The post China’s Role in America’ Bitter Loss Revealed as Erriyon Knighton’s Sudden World Relays Absence Explained appeared first on EssentiallySports.