By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Virginia native Quincy Wilson, 16, became the youngest American male to medal at the Olympics after Team USA’s men 4×400 meter relay team won gold in at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games on Aug. 10. The men finished with a time of 2:54.29, setting a new Olympic record.
Wilson, currently a rising junior at the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., had already made history when he was officially selected by the U.S. Olympic committee to be a part of Team USA’s 4×400-meter relay pool. On Aug. 8, it was announced that Wilson would officially run the opening leg on the 4×400-meter relay, which was run on Aug. 9.
“I was out there running for a team purpose. It’s amazing. Having the Bullis family and everyone supporting me is the reason why I was able to finish around the track today. 100 percent, I’ll be back next ,” said Wilson to Lewis Johnson after Team USA finished third in the qualifying round and moved onto the final.
Although Wilson did not run in the final, he will still be awarded a gold medal for his participation in helping Team USA qualify for the final that was run on Aug. 10. With the victory by Team USA, Quincy also became the youngest male Olympic medal winner in the history of track and field.
Wilson performed impressively at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June. His multiple sub-45 second performances at Hayward Field weren’t enough put him in the top three in the 400-meter dash, but they ended up being enough for the Team USA selection committee to call Quincy’s coach, Joe Lee, welcoming Wilson as a member of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lee is also the head coach of track and field at the Bullis School.
“It was surreal,” said Lee. “I was filled with gratitude, happy for him, happy for his family. Happy for the school as well because we try to do it the right way. We’re not just building athletes, but student-athletes with character, and he exemplifies all of that. He’s a straight-A student.”
The prodigy has been a buzzing name in the track and field world since running under 50 seconds in the 400-meter dash at AAU Track and Field Indoor Nationals over two years ago. More recently, Wilson ran an otherworldly 44.37 second anchor leg at Penn Relays and won the 400-meter dash at indoor New Balance Nationals in record-breaking fashion.
“I’d say what makes him special is that he is very disciplined,” said Lee. “As a high school sophomore he is the indoor and outdoor national record holder . He just finished the 10th grade. People finish their whole high school career and some even take fifth years; none have done what Quincy has been able to do.”
Going into the Paris Olympics, there was speculation that Wilson would also run on the mixed 4×400-meter relay. Although Team USA broke the world record in the event during the semi-final round, indoor world record holder Femke Bol of the Netherlands ran a blazing anchor leg for her team during the final, catching USA before the line and claiming the gold for her home country. Wilson ended up not being a part of the mixed 4×400-meter relay in the semi-final round nor in the final.
“I got the opportunity to watch Quincy run at Penn Relays. What makes Quincy special is his relentless effort in every race. I’ve seen him run 44 seconds in the 400-meter dash and one minute and 50 seconds in the 800 meters. Every time he steps on the line it is much-watch TV. He is box office and is making significant contributions to the sport,” said 800-meter runner and graduate student at the University of Maryland Mojuba Shonekan.
Leading up to the Olympics, Coach Lee told the AFRO that he did not change much regarding Quincy’s training. They continued to train four times a week. And, prior to flying to Paris, Wilson broke the 400-meter World U18 (under 18) Record for the third time this year at the Holloway Pro Classic meet with a time of 44.20 seconds on July 20.
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