Rising track and field star Quincy Wilson, a Gaithersburg, Maryland native, got his first Olympic action on Friday. At 16 years old, Wilson became the youngest American track and field Olympic when he took the field for the 4×400 preliminaries.
Wilson ran the first leg for Team USA. Despite a bad leg, his teammates caught back up in the race and finished only behind Great Britain and Botswana to advance to the finals for the 4×400 final.
Wilson got replaced for Saturday’s final. However, the team of Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, Christopher Bailey, and Wilson’s replacement, Rai Benjamin, took home the gold. Wilson earned a gold medal by running during Friday’s preliminary heat, becoming the youngest track and field Olympic gold medalist.
Wilson had a remarkable journey with a ton of success that got him to Paris.
Quincy Wilson before the Olympics
Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, Wilson moved with his family to Gaithersburg so the teenager could attend Bullis School. Bullis has a reputation for producing pro track and field athletes.
Wilson had won five 400-meter AAU Junior Olympic Games titles by age 14.
At Bullis as a freshman, Wilson won the New Balance indoor 400-meter national championship. He kept pace at third place before passing two seniors, Tennessee commit Zyaire Nurriddin, and USC commit Jacob Andrews, to win the title at 46.67 seconds.
As a sophomore, Quincy won his second straight New Balance indoor 400-meter national title, rolling past the entire competition. His 45.76 time clocked him in as the fastest high school time ever.
He dominated through his sophomore campaign, earning him a spot at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Wilson qualified for the 400-meter final against the older field, coming in third place.
In the final, Wilson finished sixth but was still called up to be part of the U.S. relay pool, making him the youngest athlete in the U.S. Olympic track team.
The historic debut
Wilson learned the Wednesday before Friday’s race that he would be running the first leg in the prelim of the men’s 4×400 relay. Wilson posted the news on Instagram, and said in the caption “Tune in Friday Morning @ 5:05 am EST”
The Bullis High School community gathered together to watch his leg. They showed their support after the race on Instagram via Max Preps.
Wilson didn’t have any great expectations in his debut. He ran in seventh place in the first leg, before handing the baton to Vernon Norwood. The team lifted the pressure off Wilson for having a bad leg. They fought back to finish third to qualify for Saturday’s 4×400 final.
Wilson received praise from other sprinters after the race, he was even congratulated by Trinidad Olympian Jaden Marchan, and the rest of the Trinidad team.
“After he made American track & field history, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson’s competitors showed him love after the race. ❤ #ParisOlympics” per NBC Olympics & Paralympics on X/Twitter.
Wilson also showed his gratitude via “X” thanking Team USA for giving him the opportunity to run in the Olympics.
Thankful for the moment! #TeamUSA
Receiving gold
Wilson witnessed the exciting race in the 4×400 relay final. Benjamin, who won gold in 400-meter hurdles, went head-to-head in the final leg against 200-meter Gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Benjamin edged Tebogo at the finish line to secure the US the gold medal.
Wilson was seen screaming in celebration as Benjamin crossed the finish line.
After receiving his medal, Wilson joked about what is next for him after winning an Olympic gold medal.
Dang, I really got school in 2 and a half weeks💔#Gold#OlympicGamesParis
Quincy Wilson will enter his junior year at Bullis this year. He is set to graduate in 2026 with two more years of eligibility for high school. There is nothing but time ahead of him. With an Olympic gold medal in tow, his junior campaign will come with the expectation for him to dominate the high school track and field level. He will seek his third straight New Balance national championship.
The Olympic experience at such a young age puts Wilson in the position to become the face of the United States men’s track and field in the near future.
