Rai Benjamin & Grant Holloway reaffirm why Quincy Wilson deserved his Olympic gold medal

Quincy Wilson on the podium with his Paris Olympics gold medal.

Rai Benjamin & Grant Holloway reaffirm why Quincy Wilson deserved his Olympic gold medal

Stephen Awino 08:40 - 22.02.2025

Qunicy Wilson's gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics spurred discussion about whether the track progidy deserved his medal for his contribution in Team USA's 4x400m relay victory.

Quincy Wilson's Olympic journey was anything but smooth, yet his resilience and determination played a crucial role in securing Team USA’s gold medal in the 4x400-meter relay.

While Wilson did not race in the final, his efforts in the qualifying heat ensured his place among the Olympic champions, proving why he rightfully earned his medal.

Wilson ran the leadoff leg for Team USA in the 4x400m relay heats, clocking a 47.27 second split before passing the baton in seventh place.

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His performance helped secure the team’s qualification for the final, where the quartet of Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, Chris Bailey, and Rai Benjamin set a new Olympic record of 2:54.43.

Despite battling a hamstring injury, Wilson pushed through, determined to get the baton around the track.

Speaking on Beyond the Records with Grant Holloway and Rai Benjamin, he recounted the moment his hamstring seized up during warmups.

“While running a 200 on the curve, I felt something real quick. I tried to push through, but my whole hamstring grabbed up. I smiled it off, but it hurt so bad," he revealed.

Despite the injury, Wilson remained focused on his role in the team’s success, stating, “I ran, but it wasn’t just about me—it was about the depth of the team. Everybody was running that day, and they knew I was in pain, but we had to get it done. I got the baton around, and that’s what mattered.”

Wilson’s grit did not go unnoticed. Holloway and Benjamin both acknowledged his perseverance and the impact he had on Team USA’s gold-medal performance.

“It takes a different type of dog to go out there, still get the baton around the track, and not fold, not bend—just because you know you have a job to do. I tip my cap off to you for that," said Holloway.

Benjamin echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Wilson’s crucial role in the team’s success, stating, “We told him, ‘Hey, listen, just get the baton around. Don’t do anything you’ve never done before. These boys will bail you out, don’t even worry about it.’”

"I already know what some of the comments probably said, like, ‘Oh, you didn’t do no work, blah blah blah, you don’t really deserve it.’ But you were at the Olympics. You did what you had to do," added Holloway.

The debate surrounding relay medals often questions whether athletes who race only in qualifying heats deserve their share of the glory.

“I don’t get that argument—that you didn’t do anything. Because if you think about it, you were pivotal in getting us through the rounds,” Benjamin noted.

Wilson himself was firm in defending his contribution, stating, “I personally feel like if anyone went through what I went through—the pain I was going through after my hamstring—I promise you, nobody would’ve stepped on the track.”

Wilson’s journey to Olympic gold was a testament to his determination and unwavering team spirit.

While he may have ambitions for individual success in the future, his role in Team USA’s triumph was undeniable.