PARIS — American men have been participating in track and field at the Olympic Games for 128 years, but none have achieved the feat at such a young age as Quincy Wilson.
At just 16 years old, Wilson is set to compete in the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team on Friday at the Stade de France, as confirmed by his coach Joe Lee in an interview with NBC News. This event will mark Wilson as the youngest male U.S. track Olympian, surpassing the record held by middle-distance runner Jim Ryun, who was 17 during the 1964 Olympics.
It’s uncertain whether Wilson will participate in the Olympic final on Saturday, as it’s typical for teams to change their lineups between preliminary heats and finals.
Wilson recently distinguished himself in the men’s 400-meter event at the U.S. Track and Field Trials on June 24. Even amidst an Olympics highlighted by younger competitors, including an 11-year-old Chinese skateboarder and a 14-year-old Australian skateboarder who has already won gold, Wilson’s involvement is noteworthy given the demanding nature of his event. Standing at 5-foot-9, Wilson has made a name for himself by consistently outperforming his peers at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, and showcasing an exceptional performance at the Trials in Eugene, Oregon, where he completed three rounds of the 400-meter in under 45 seconds and finished sixth in the final.
On July 18 in Florida, Wilson solidified Team USA’s faith in him by breaking the Under-18 world record with a time of 44.20 seconds, outperforming a field of professional athletes. This time ranks as the 11th fastest in the world this season, the fourth fastest by an American, and would have placed him sixth in the 400-meter final held on Wednesday.
His impressive results led USA Track & Field to include him in the relay pool for the U.S. team in Paris. However, being part of the relay pool only suggests that coaches may consider him for competition. When Wilson was not selected for the mixed 4×400-meter team, which ultimately secured a silver medal, his chances of representing the U.S. appeared to diminish.
Wilson comes from a family of athletes; his sister, Kadence, is a sprinter and long jumper at James Madison University, while his cousin, Shaniya Hall, competes for the University of Oregon. Signs of Wilson’s potential as a sprinting talent emerged early when he finished fourth in the 400 at the AAU Junior Olympic Games at age eight, then returned to claim his first national championship the following year, leading to a total of five titles.
Nevertheless, none of his prior achievements can compare to the significance of competing at Stade de France.
The U.S. already boasts a strong lineup in the 400 meters, with three men, including gold medalist Quincy Hall, reaching the final on Wednesday. However, Wilson’s rise on the international stage has generated considerable anticipation looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Before pursuing that Olympic dream, he must first transition into his junior year of high school.