WATCH: Celebrations from Quincy Wilson's Bullis High School go viral as 16-year-old makes Olympic debut in 4x400m relay at Paris Olympics 2024

By Abhiruchi Rout

Modified Aug 11, 2024 15:48 GMT

Quincy Wilson’s high school, Bullis School, erupted in cheers as the 16-year-old took part in the heats of the men's 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics 2024. Wilson ran the first leg for the United States in Heat 1 of the 4x400m relay event where the USA finished third to automatically qualify for the finals, with a time of 2:59.15.

After competing in the 4x400m relay, Wilson scripted history as the youngest U.S. male track athlete to participate in the Olympics. At just 16 years old, he surpassed Jim Ryun, the 1500m silver medalist at the 1968 Olympic Games, who was 17 when he represented the USA at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Watch the video of the Bullis School cheering for Quincy Wilson as the auditorium is filled with enthusiastic students, faculty, and parents as they watch his Olympic event together.

Despite competing in the heats, Wilson was not selected for the finals due to his sub-par show, where he recorded a 47.27-second split in the first leg. Nevertheless, the United States, comprising Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Rai Benjamin, bagged the gold medal in the 4x400m relay with an Olympic record performance of 2:54.43.

It was a close finish as Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo delivered a phenomenal performance in the anchor leg with a 43.04s split. However, with the USA already in the lead, the 400m hurdles gold medalist Rai maintained the advantage secured by his teammates and crossed the finish line to claim his second gold at the quadrennial games.

Since Wilson was a member of the USA men’s 4x400m relay squad during the preliminaries, he also bagged the gold medal in the event along with his other team members.

Quincy Wilson’s road to Paris Olympics 2024

Quincy Wilson running the first leg of the Men's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 Heat during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Quincy Wilson qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 after an impressive performance at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. He showed his brilliance as he ran three sub-45s in the heats, semis, and finals at the Olympic trials.

Wilson recorded 44.66 seconds in the heats, 44.59 seconds in the semifinals, and 44.94 seconds in the finals His performance in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials fetched him a sixth-place finish in the competition.

Notably, Quincy Wilson is also the World U18 record holder in the 400m discipline, courtesy of a 44.20s run at the 2024 Holloway Pro Classic.