Whether you’ve been following his meteoric rise or just catching on, Quincy Wilson is a spark that will engage the attention of anyone interested in athletics.
The Maryland-based sprinting sensation has been making headlines for years, but in early 2024, he ascended to new heights by setting a junior world record in the indoor 400m. Last month, he clocked 45.76 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, a time that would have secured fourth place at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships at the senior level.
The 16-year-old earned a surprise spot on Team USA for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, according to the Olympics website.
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Wilson finished sixth with 44.94 in the 400m final behind Quincy Hall. Though he missed out on a spot as an individual sprinter, Wilson is poised to become the youngest male U.S. track Olympian ever as part of the 4x400m relay squad if selected.
A student at Bullis School in the Washington, DC suburbs, Wilson has made headlines with his indoor 400m record and continues to break new ground in various ways at just 16 years old. Wilson clocked 45.19 in the 400m at the Florida Relays on March 29, marking the fastest time in the U.S. this year and the sixth-fastest globally for 2024.
This performance automatically qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in late June in Eugene, Oregon. The high schooler had a stellar weekend at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, running three 400m races under 45 seconds.
He shattered the 42-year-old under-18 world record with a 44.59 in the semi-finals. If confirmed for the U.S. team, Wilson will be 16 years and 200 days old at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, making him the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian. He has surpassed Arthur Newton’s record set at 17 years and 165 days.
Following Wilson’s stunning performance in Boston, reigning sprint king Noah Lyles, the world champion in both the 100m and 200m, tweeted a video of Wilson’s race, declaring, “He is HIM!”
Wilson aspires to join Lyles on the track this summer and expressed his confidence in achieving this goal during an interview with Citius Magazine in Boston.
“I’ve looked up to [Lyles and Fred Kerley] for a long time,” Wilson said after his record-breaking performance. “But now I think it’s my turn. I hope I can make the [Olympic relay] team.”
Last September, the young speedster captured the attention of major athletic brands and signed a name, image, and likeness deal with New Balance, becoming one of the youngest high school athletes to do so with a top sports apparel company.
Wilson joined the ranks of New Balance athletes like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Coco Gauff. In 2023, as a freshman, he snapped a photo with McLaughlin-Levrone at the New Balance Indoors.
Wilson has a strong digital presence. The 16-year-old boasts over 40,000 Instagram followers and has launched a YouTube channel where he vlogs from his meets, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into practice, life off the track, and his NIL visit to New Balance.
Off the track, he enjoys playing Fortnite, sipping lemonade, indulging in sweets, and goofing around with teammates. For Wilson and his burgeoning career, this is just the beginning.
“We’ve gotta keep grinding,” he said.
