In Pictures: Erriyon Knighton stuns in Redbull campaign as he enters the final phase of preparation for the Paris Olympics

Erriyon Knighton struck the internet with stunning photos in a campaign for leading Austrian energy drink manufacturer Redbull as preparations ramp up for the Paris Olympic Games. Knighton shared a series of photos on the track, proving to be in the right shape for the global bonanza.

The world 200m bronze medallist has been on top of his game, training hard as he gears up for the daring assignment.

Erriyon Knighton will be hoping to claim a medal when he steps on the purple track for the men’s 200m after missing out on a podium finish at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. He managed a fourth-place finish in 19.93 in the men’s 200m final.

This season has been marred with challenges following his doping suspension which was cleared a few days prior to the U.S. Olympic trials. However, he still proved to be a majestic athlete with his prowess, finishing third in the men's 200m to punch a ticket to the Paris Olympic Games.

Sharing the photos of the Redbull campaign on his Instagram handle, Knighton wrote:

"Road to Paris🔥🔥 @redbullusa."

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"I know I never did anything wrong"- Erriyon Knighton claims his innocence following Olympic qualification

Erriyon Knighton on Day 7 of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023

Erriyon Knighton insisted on his innocence following the Athletics Integrity Unit’s provisional suspension of him earlier in the year.

Knighton disclosed that deep down in his heart, he knew he was a clean athlete and was confident that he would return to competitive running, and so he did not stop training.

Knighton had a positive test for a metabolite of trenbolone during an out-of-competition test by the US Anti-doping Agency (USADA). Following the positive test, Knighton was provisionally suspended on April 12.

However, he was cleared to compete after an independent arbitrator found that the substance might have made its way to his system through contaminated meat. Speaking after the 200m final race at the U.S. Olympic trials, Knighton told Flo Track:

"In my heart, I knew I never did anything wrong and I have always been a good athlete. I’m a clean athlete and I knew I was going to be able to run. Really nothing in particular…I know I never did anything wrong."

He added:

"This is my first race coming back and it’s a kind of relief that I made the team and I’m grateful to step on the track when representing USA. I’ve been training the whole year so everything pretty much was going smooth and I was just waiting for my time to run but other than that I’m very blessed and grateful to be on the track again."

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Knighton will be competing alongside triple world champion Noah Lyles who won the trials in a world-leading time and meet record of 19.53.

Kenny Bednarek, the Olympic Games 200m silver medallist, finished second in 19.59 as Knighton completed the podium in 19.77.