'I was about to pass out!' - American wunderkid Quincy Wilson opens up on rubbing shoulders with Jay-Z after Paris Olympics heroics

'I was about to pass out!' - American wunderkid Quincy Wilson opens up on rubbing shoulders with Jay-Z after Paris Olympics heroics

Mark Kinyanjui 20:00 - 27.08.2024

Wilson has opened up on the unforgettable moment of rubbing shoulders with established stars like LeBron James and

In a summer that has redefined the limits of youth achievement, American wunderkind Quincy Wilson has not only etched his name in the history books as the youngest-ever track and field Olympic gold medalist at just 16 years old, but has also risen to unprecedented celebrity status.

Wilson was part of the U.S men’s 4x400-meter relay team which claimed gold at the Paris Olympic games.

Although Wilson did not compete in the final, his efforts in Round 1 secured him the coveted Olympic gold.

Standing at 5-foot-9, Wilson had already proven himself in the months leading up to the Olympics. He dominated the 400-meter race against his high school peers at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, and delivered a jaw-dropping performance at the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June. 

Wilson ran a sub-45-second 400 in three consecutive rounds, ultimately finishing sixth in the final. His meteoric rise continued at a meet in Florida on July 18, where he shattered the Under-18 world record with a blistering time of 44.20 seconds, outkicking a field of professionals. 

This remarkable time ranked as the 11th-fastest in the world that season, the fourth-fastest by an American, and would have placed sixth in the Olympic 400-meter final.

Reflecting on his rapid ascent, Wilson shared his excitement about his newfound celebrity status, especially at the Olympics, where he was pleasantly surprised to find out that established superstars, such as LeBron James, already knew who he was before he could even introduce himself to them while in their camp for the games.

 "It was amazing because before that, I wanted to make sure that I’d seen LeBron James, and when I got there, it was just like, ‘what is up LeBron, you wanna know who I am?’" Wilson told FOX 5 Washington DC, still in awe.

"It was crazy that the likes of LeBron and Steph (Curry) all knew who I was."

Wilson's Olympic experience was nothing short of surreal. "It was a dream come true. I never thought that at 16 years old, you would be standing on the biggest platform of your life," he reflected.

 "When you think about track and field, the highest field you can get to is the Olympic games. I was there at 16, and it was just like, really a dream to see all the supporters and people from different countries boo you and different things. 

“So it was amazing getting to represent Team USA, and getting the stick around was the main goal, which we were able to do, and we got a gold medal."

One of the most unforgettable moments for Wilson was the star-studded interactions he experienced.

 "It was a big thing, you know. Everyone saw me walking down the aisle, and when I looked up, I was like, ‘is that Jay Z?’ My mom was about to pass out, I was about to pass out, everyone was about to pass out, but it was a great time meeting them. 

“That was the first time I got nervous sitting next to a person, and it was amazing."

Wilson’s emergence on the global stage has set high expectations as he looks ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

 However, before he can begin preparing for an Olympic encore, the 16-year-old sensation must first tackle a more immediate challenge—starting his junior year of high school.

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