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The US team could already have the Olympic 400m champion in the bag after Quincy Hall edged out Matt Hudson-Smith for the gold medal in the men’s final on Wednesday with a storming victory.
But the next superstar for this legendary event and perhaps for the sport as a whole is already waiting for him in America: 16-year-old Quincy Wilson is expected to make his debut at the Olympic Games.
After his big performance at the US track and field qualifiers in June, an appearance in the 4×400-meter relay on Friday is possible, according to his coach.
Joseph Lee told Yahoo Sports that Wilson will lead the U.S. quartet. On Instagram, the teenager posted: “Tune in Friday morning at 5:05am EST,” hinting at his first appearance at the Games.
Wilson of Maryland is expected to take part in the morning session, while the USA will compete in the first heat.
Wilson was not selected by U.S. relay coach Mike Marsh to run a leg of the mixed 4×400-meter relay last Friday or Saturday. Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, Shamier Little and Kaylyn Brown set a world record in the heats before winning a silver medal in the final.
And it seemed unclear whether Wilson would sit out the games entirely or step in as a substitute for the entire relay team.
But Wilson will now compete in Round 1 on Friday morning at 11:05 a.m. local time, making him the youngest American male athlete to ever compete in an Olympic track and field event.
Wilson is almost a year younger than middle-distance runner Jim Ryun, who competed in the 1964 Games at the age of 17 years and 137 days.
Wilson did not qualify for the 400 m individual race in the preliminary heats, finishing fourth, but was named to Team USA’s relay squad.
“When I got the call, I was so excited,” Wilson said. “I started running around the house. It was a really special moment for me because everyone dreams of going to the Olympics as a little kid.”
Wilson has broken the U18 world record twice at U.S. qualifying competitions, including with a time of 44.59 seconds. Three weeks ago, Wilson improved his personal best again to 44.20 seconds.
Wilson, who is the 11th fastest man in the world in the 400-meter race this year, attends the Bullis School in a suburb of Washington, DC
Wilson has been on a resurgence in recent years, winning his fifth AAU national title at the Junior Olympics while defending his own title in the 400m.
In the semifinals, he ran 47.59 seconds, entering the US record books and beating the national U14 record held by Obea Moore, a 30-year-old runner.
