Quincy Wilson, a sprinting prodigy from Potomac, Maryland, is set to make history as the youngest American male to join the Olympic track team at age sixteen. The rising high school junior at Bullis School has been selected for the 4×400-meter relay pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking a groundbreaking moment in US track and field history.
Wilson’s coach, Joe Lee, confirmed the news to multiple outlets, including USA Today and the Washington Post. “The call came directly to me from USA Track & Field,” Lee stated. “I called Quincy afterwards with the good news.” Wilson himself announced his selection on Instagram, posting “WE GOING TO THE OLYMPICS” along with photos in his official Team USA uniform.
The teenager’s journey to the Olympics began at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, where he showcased his exceptional talent. Despite finishing sixth in the 400-meter final, Wilson’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He broke the world’s under-18 400-meter record twice during the trials – first with a time of 44.66 seconds in the opening round, and then again with 44.59 seconds in the semifinals.
Wilson’s selection comes after his impressive showing at the trials, where he consistently ran sub-45 second times in three consecutive races. His remarkable achievement caught the attention of established athletes like Rai Benjamin, an Olympic 400-meter hurdler, who advocated for Wilson’s inclusion in the relay pool.
“He deserves it,” Benjamin said. “The kid came out and ran 44s all three rounds. I’m not worried about him on the technical side of things, because he’s run multiple 4x4s, and he and his coach know how to keep it simple.”
Wilson’s Olympic journey will see him join track stars Quincy Hall, Michael Norman, and Chris Bailey, who finished ahead of him in the 400-meter final at the US trials. His selection not only highlights his exceptional talent but also represents a significant milestone in Olympic history.
Bill Mallon, an Olympics historian, confirmed to CBS News that Wilson is indeed the youngest male track Olympian to make the US team. The previous record for the youngest ever track and field American athlete is held by Esther Stroy, who competed at the age of 15 in the 1968 Olympics.
As Wilson prepares for Paris, he remains grounded and focused. After the trials, he humbly stated, “Three consecutive sub-44s is just amazing. All I know is I gave it everything I had, and I can’t be disappointed. At the end of the day, I’m 16 running grown man times.”
The official announcement of the full US track and field team, including the relay pool, is expected on July 8. However, Wilson’s selection has already captured the imagination of sports fans worldwide, marking him as a rising star to watch at the Paris Olympics and beyond.
