Quincy Wilson is set to become the youngest male American track and field Olympian after being selected for the U.S. 4×400 meter relay team. The 16-year-old received the news on June 30, even though an official announcement will be made later this month.
“The call came directly to me from USA Track & Field,” Wilson’s coach Joe Lee told USA Today. “I called Quincy afterwards with the good news.”
A junior in high school, Wilson nearly made the cut during the 400-meter race during the trials this weekend. He came in sixth place. Prior to his achievement, he broke a significant record. The Maryland native beat the world record for under-18 runners in the 400-meter race on June 21.
“I’ve never been this happy a day in my life when it comes to track,” Wilson said after his performance, according to NBC News.
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He ran 44.66 seconds, then 44.59 during the semifinals on June 23. In doing so, he beat the record set by Justin Robinson, who ran 44.84 seconds in 2019.
At the Paris Olympics, Wilson will be the youngest U.S. Olympian since Jim Ryun, who was 17 years old when he competed in 1964. He is also the youngest since Cindy Gilbert, who competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics at 15 years old, according to People.
U.S. track and field Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was also among the youngest athletes to perform in recent years. She competed in the 2016 Rio Games when she was 16 years old; she turned 17 during the competition.
