Sixteen-year-old Quincy Wilson is set to make history on Friday, becoming the youngest American male to ever compete in an Olympic track and field event. Despite not even being old enough to buy a lottery ticket, Wilson’s Olympic journey in Paris is one for the record books.
For those of you just waking up in the States, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson will be getting his full Olympic dreams realized after all. We learned this morning he’ll indeed be part of the U.S. men’s 4×400-meter relay. The prelim is early tomorrow https://t.co/dpSZa90rq5
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) August 8, 2024
As reported by ESPN’s Coley Harvey, Wilson was ecstatic when he learned in July that he had been added to Team USA’s 4×400-meter relay pool. This news came after he narrowly missed qualifying for the individual 400-meter dash at the U.S. track and field trials in June.
“When I got the call, I was just ecstatic,” Wilson shared with Harvey. “I started running around the house. It was a dream come true because every kid dreams of going to the Olympics.”
Once he steps onto the track, Wilson will break the long-standing record held by Jim Ryun, who competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics at 17 years and 137 days old.
Although Wilson didn’t participate in the 4×400 mixed heats earlier this week, there was uncertainty about whether he would get the chance to compete in the Summer Games. However, his determination has brought him to this historic moment.
A native of Maryland, Wilson’s Olympic dreams began during the 2016 Summer Games in Rio when he was just eight years old. His talent was evident early on, as he shattered the under-18 world record for the 400-meter dash twice at the U.S. trials, first clocking a 44.66 in the preliminary round and then an even faster 44.59 in the semifinals. Wilson further showcased his potential with a blistering 44.20 in a July “tune-up race” in Florida.
Now, all eyes will be on the young sprinter as he aims to make his mark on the Olympic stage, continuing his rapid ascent in the world of track and field.
