Call Mounts Against Quincy Wilson As Track and Field Fans Frustrated With Teenager’s Performance

When 16-year-old Quincy Wilson reached the stage track athletes only dream of, hopes surrounding him were high. Already creating history at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the youngest male track and field champion ever, the teenager cemented his legacy in the annals of history forever. Slowly, and confidently, Wilson returned home with renewed vigor, ready to take on the world. However, as the community moves farther and farther away from his Paris shenanigans, some unfortunate truths have started to surface lately, turning the very people who supported him, against him…

The onset of heartbreak kicked off on January 17, when the Paris-returned athlete was handed an upset by Bayside High School’s Andrew Salvodon at the 2025 VA Showcase. While Salvodon set a new national record in the 500 meters with a time of 1 minute, 0.49 seconds at the Virginia Beach Sports Center—shattering Will Sumner’s 2022, 1:01.25 record in the same event—Wilson finished second with 1:02.49.

Reacting to the heartbreak, the Bullis School athlete had said, “So basically, like I said, I won this gold medal, I’ve won a lot of things, won every national championship that I’ve been in and things like that, but last weekend I ran my first track meet and I lost…Everybody had me planned out to win, everybody had everything set out, and I was supposed to win. I got beat. The dude that beat me broke the national record…But at the end of the day, the guy that came out there and beat me, he said it doesn’t matter who steps on the track, who steps on against him, he’s going to give them their best effort. That’s how it is.” Well, things only went downhill from there…

At the Millrose Games on February 8, Will Sumner decided to go full beast mode, dropping a blazing 1:14.04 in the 600m. Wilson finished fourth with 1:16.20. But, he didn’t lose hope.

Coming into his first-ever US Indoor Championship event that began on February 22, young Quincy was confident to turn his fortunes around. With a public proclamation of, “I don’t like to lose. I’m ready, and I’m hungry,” it was almost guaranteed that he’d make a mark. However, reality had other plans.

Though determined to keep his 400m winning streak alive, by the end of the race, that optimism vanished against stiff competition, including Elijah Godwin, Vernon Norwood, Brian Faust, Jacory Patterson, and Chris Bailey. And if that wasn’t bad enough? That marked his third loss of the season. Rough day.

While he made history in the past, the phenom couldn’t add another win to his résumé. Despite a personal best of 45.66 in the 400m finals, Wilson fell short this time, clocking a modest 46.13 to finish fifth—a noticeable drop, especially given the winning time.

To make matters worse, he lost to his own Paris Olympic relay teammates, Chris Bailey and Vernon Norwood. Bailey claimed the top spot at 45.21, Jacory Patterson secured second with 45.60, and Elijah Godwin rounded out the podium at 46.09. And then there was Brian Fraust who claimed the fourth spot with 46.11.

Top Comment by Tdiddy1000

He’s an overhyped boy who may ruin a promising career trying to compete at an elite level. He’s elite at...more

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Unfortunately, the lackluster finish didn’t bode well within the community…

Fans want Quincy Wilson to walk the talk, not just talk the talk

One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “Quincy Wilson was 5th and won’t get an individual spot on the US Team; talk about making bold claims.” Another called it “the biggest scam in track and field history!” Ouch. A third piled on, “What was this, his third loss this season? Man, he needs to desperately turn things around.” Harsh. Look, Wilson had a solid race last week, but today? Yeah, not exactly his best work.

At the New Balance Grand Prix on Feb. 2, Wilson had everyone talking after he improved his own high school national record, clocking a blazing 45.66 over 400m. But fast forward to Sunday, and things didn’t go quite as planned. He opened in 21.75 through the first 200 m but got caught in a crowded field. Coming off the final curve, he had to swing out to lane three in a last-ditch effort to make up ground.

Unfortunately, he just ran out of real estate, finishing fifth in 46.13, right behind Brian Faust. But let’s be real—fans expect consistency, not a one-off great race sandwiched between struggles. And when you’re a Paris Olympic gold medalist, the bar is even higher. Quincy Wilson has the talent, but he’s got to prove he’s still the guy to beat. Otherwise, the track world will move on fast. Just like his competition did this time.

And the criticism from fans kept coming. One fan bluntly stated, “Man, he needs to listen to what he is saying before he talks that sh-t.” Another offered a slightly softer take, saying, “I think this will serve as a real eye-opener. The kid has potential but needs to take it slow.”

Just last year, Wilson was the golden boy—literally—becoming the youngest American Olympic male track and field athlete ever and snagging an Olympic gold in the mixed 4x400m relay. But before the indoor championships? Oh, he was talking big. “It’s my grit. My determination. I don’t like to lose. I’m ready, and I’m hungry.”

Love the confidence, but track fans? Yeah, they don’t forget. The second he took that L, they were all over him. Another fan didn’t hold back, declaring, “The hype behind Quincy Wilson at times feels like the biggest scam in track and field history!” A brutal take, but one that highlights the growing impatience among fans.

Well, we know in track and field, hype is earned with results, and when the wins don’t follow the talk, criticism comes fast—sometimes harsher than deserved.