'I'm 16 running grown man times' - Quincy Wilson's words in the build-up to Paris Olympics that sum up his 2024 season after recent milestone

Quincy Wilson is one of the top sprint youngsters highly rated for next season

'I'm 16 running grown man times' - Quincy Wilson's words in the build-up to Paris Olympics that sum up his 2024 season after recent milestone

Stephen Awino 18:01 - 30.12.2024

American track prodigy Quincy Wilson recently ran a record breaking-time in the 600m and his words prior to the Olympics brilliantly epitomise this milestone and his 2024 season.

American track prodigy Quincy Wilson continues to rewrite history books. In his first solo race since the Paris Olympics, the 16-year-old clocked an extraordinary 1:17.19 in the 600m at the US Marine Corps Holiday Classic, securing victory in style.

This blistering performance ranks as the second-fastest time ever recorded by a high school student in the United States, trailing only Will Sumner’s 1:15.58 from 2022.

With this feat, Wilson ascends to the second position on the all-time high school boys’ list, cementing his status as one of the brightest young talents in American track and field.

Wilson’s rapid rise mirrors his fearless approach to competition. Reflecting on his qualification for Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics, Wilson shared his mindset going into the Summer Games.

“All I know is that I gave everything that I had and so that’s the main thing. I can’t go back and be disappointed because at the end of the day, I’m 16 running grown man times,” he told Flotrack after his remarkable 400m performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials back in June.

At the Paris Olympics, Wilson made history as the youngest male athlete ever to compete for U.S. Track and Field.

Running the first leg of the men’s 4×400-meter relay qualifying heat, he helped the team secure a third-place finish, ensuring their spot in the final. The team went on to clinch the gold medal, with Wilson becoming an Olympic champion at just 16.

Quincy Wilson’s journey from high school standout to Olympic gold medalist and now a record-breaking 600m sprinter is a testament to his exceptional talent and determination.