Teen star Quincy Wilson, now officially youngest male track Olympian ever for Team USA, ran his first race Friday after competing in the men’s 4×400-meter relay qualifier at Paris Olympics.
The 16-year-old was the leadoff runner in the relay and started with a burst of energy before falling behind and dropping to seventh place. He then passed the baton to teammate Vernon Norwood, who passed it to Bryce Deadmon and then to Christopher Bailey.
Despite Wilson’s rocky debut, the Americans finished third and advanced to Saturday’s 4×400 final after posting a time of 2:59:15.
Getty Images
After the race, Wilson said on social media that he was “grateful for the moment”. He told Olympics.com that the experience was a “dream come true” and said he had no pre-race jitters.
“I didn’t run my best, but I knew I had a great team on my hands,” Wilson said.
It is still unclear whether Wilson will be in the final. He can be replaced by star Quincy Hallwhich had a dramatic finish when he passed three runners en route to Olympic gold in the men’s 400 meters.
But if Team USA gets a top-three finish in the finals, Wilson would still get one medal. Olympic historian Bill Mallon told CBS News that he would be the youngest American male track athlete to receive one if he does.
Before the teenage phenom arrived in Paris, Wilson broke the 18,400-meter world record twice at the U.S. trials — surpassing her own record in the semifinals on June 23 and breaking the record two days earlier.
Wilson, a rising high school junior from Potomac, Maryland, has yet to acquire his own driving licensebut he already has his own deal with New Balancewho signed him last year.
