Five Current US Olympians Who Competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games
07/26/2024
Three-time AAU Gold medalist, Erriyon Knighton at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2020
Article originally published on www.milesplit.com
Written by: Campbell Choate
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The AAU Junior Olympic Games remains one of the country's most storied youth meets.
Beginning in 1967, amateur athletes from across the U.S. have competed at the year-end meet to secure championships, records and hardware.
Over its tenure, the AAU Junior Olympic Games has seen athletes emerge as future U.S. Olympians. Below are five recently-minted U.S. Olympians with history in the event.
GRANT HOLLOWAY, Grassfield (VA) - Class of 2016
The reigning Olympic silver medalist at the 110 meter hurdle discipline has gold on his mind, and no less.
His name is Grant Holloway, and he's a three-time world champion, having won in Doha in 2019, in Eugene in 2022 and in Budapest last season.
But before he was one of the world's very best in the 110mH, and even before he was leading a historic career at the University of Florida, where he won eight NCAA titles, Holloway was simply developing as a young athlete.
He attended the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2013, winning gold in one event. But it might be surprising to know which one.
While Holloway placed third in the 100mH with a time of 14.22, was fourth in the the long jump and won the high jump in a mark of 1.98 meters.
QUINCY HALL, Raytown (MO) - Class of 2016
The recent winner of the 400m at the Diamond League in Monaco, Hall is now the world leader in the 400m and is coming off of a personal best time of 43.80.
He could be the favorite win Olympic gold in Paris.
But prior to becoming a professional athlete, Hall was actually a 400 meter hurdler at the University of South Carolina and won an NCAA title.
In high school, Hall first competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2014, placing first in the 400mH in the 15-16yo category with a time of 52.19 seconds. He was second in the 400m and fourth in the 110mH.
The following year, Hall returned to the AAU Junior Olympics and placed second in the 400m.
SHA'CARRI RICHARSON, Dallas Carter (TX) - Class of 2017
There is no doubt that Richardson is the biggest name in track and field today.
Richardson won the 100m title at the World Championships last year, made the podium in the 200m and anchored the U.S. team in their 4x100 win.
Prior to becoming track's biggest star, Richardson took home gold in the 15-16yo 100m final during her sophomore year in 2016, authoring a time of 11.74.
The 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games was the only time the Dallas Carter graduate attended the meet.
JASMINE MOORE, Mansfield Lake Ridge (TX)
In 2022, Moore became the first American woman to qualify for both the long and triple jumps at the World Championships. This year, she's headed to the Olympics having qualified for both again.
But back in high school, Moore was a superstar, too.
The Mansfield Lake Ridge alum scored two gold medals at the 2015 AAU Junior Olympic Games, hitting a mark of 18-5.25 in the long jump and 40-6.75 in the triple.
Two years later, Moore added two more gold medals, going 19-2 in the long jump and 41-0.25 in the triple.
ERRIYON KNIGHTON, Tampa Hillsborough (FL) - Class of 2022
Knighton became the youngest individual sprint medalist in World Championships history in 2022 after winning a bronze medal in the 200m at the age of 18.
Knighton ran a world U18 best that year in 19.84 seconds and now will attend his second Olympics after placing third in the 200m at the U.S Olympic Team Trials.
Before Knighton signed with adidas and left Hillsborough High School during his junior year of high school, he was an AAU gold medal winner and remains the 200m boys record-holder.
At the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2020 -- when it was rescheduled to be held in Florida due to COVID -- Knighton broke the AAU and sophomore class records in the 200m and left as an outright star, clocking a time of 20.33.
He remains the seventh-fastest high school boy of all-time in the event.
Good luck to all of the athletes as they are set to compete in the Paris Olympics!
Erriyon Knighton breaking the record at the 2020 at the Space Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games
Written by: Campbell Choate
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The AAU Junior Olympic Games remains one of the country's most storied youth meets.
Beginning in 1967, amateur athletes from across the U.S. have competed at the year-end meet to secure championships, records and hardware.
Over its tenure, the AAU Junior Olympic Games has seen athletes emerge as future U.S. Olympians. Below are five recently-minted U.S. Olympians with history in the event.
GRANT HOLLOWAY, Grassfield (VA) - Class of 2016
The reigning Olympic silver medalist at the 110 meter hurdle discipline has gold on his mind, and no less.
His name is Grant Holloway, and he's a three-time world champion, having won in Doha in 2019, in Eugene in 2022 and in Budapest last season.
But before he was one of the world's very best in the 110mH, and even before he was leading a historic career at the University of Florida, where he won eight NCAA titles, Holloway was simply developing as a young athlete.
He attended the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2013, winning gold in one event. But it might be surprising to know which one.
While Holloway placed third in the 100mH with a time of 14.22, was fourth in the the long jump and won the high jump in a mark of 1.98 meters.
QUINCY HALL, Raytown (MO) - Class of 2016
The recent winner of the 400m at the Diamond League in Monaco, Hall is now the world leader in the 400m and is coming off of a personal best time of 43.80.
He could be the favorite win Olympic gold in Paris.
But prior to becoming a professional athlete, Hall was actually a 400 meter hurdler at the University of South Carolina and won an NCAA title.
In high school, Hall first competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2014, placing first in the 400mH in the 15-16yo category with a time of 52.19 seconds. He was second in the 400m and fourth in the 110mH.
The following year, Hall returned to the AAU Junior Olympics and placed second in the 400m.
SHA'CARRI RICHARSON, Dallas Carter (TX) - Class of 2017
There is no doubt that Richardson is the biggest name in track and field today.
Richardson won the 100m title at the World Championships last year, made the podium in the 200m and anchored the U.S. team in their 4x100 win.
Prior to becoming track's biggest star, Richardson took home gold in the 15-16yo 100m final during her sophomore year in 2016, authoring a time of 11.74.
The 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games was the only time the Dallas Carter graduate attended the meet.
JASMINE MOORE, Mansfield Lake Ridge (TX)
In 2022, Moore became the first American woman to qualify for both the long and triple jumps at the World Championships. This year, she's headed to the Olympics having qualified for both again.
But back in high school, Moore was a superstar, too.
The Mansfield Lake Ridge alum scored two gold medals at the 2015 AAU Junior Olympic Games, hitting a mark of 18-5.25 in the long jump and 40-6.75 in the triple.
Two years later, Moore added two more gold medals, going 19-2 in the long jump and 41-0.25 in the triple.
ERRIYON KNIGHTON, Tampa Hillsborough (FL) - Class of 2022
Knighton became the youngest individual sprint medalist in World Championships history in 2022 after winning a bronze medal in the 200m at the age of 18.
Knighton ran a world U18 best that year in 19.84 seconds and now will attend his second Olympics after placing third in the 200m at the U.S Olympic Team Trials.
Before Knighton signed with adidas and left Hillsborough High School during his junior year of high school, he was an AAU gold medal winner and remains the 200m boys record-holder.
At the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2020 -- when it was rescheduled to be held in Florida due to COVID -- Knighton broke the AAU and sophomore class records in the 200m and left as an outright star, clocking a time of 20.33.
He remains the seventh-fastest high school boy of all-time in the event.
Good luck to all of the athletes as they are set to compete in the Paris Olympics!
Erriyon Knighton breaking the record at the 2020 at the Space Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games
