Ask Quincy Wilson, the youngest American track & field male Olympian in history, what he fears the most. Like a true champion, he will tell you, “I feel like you are always going to get nervous. When you are a competitor, the biggest fear ever is to lose. My biggest fear ever that anybody could ask me ‘What’s you biggest fear?’ is probably to lose. I don’t like to lose and so anything that comes in where you could possibly lose I might get a little nervous.” We do not know if he was nervous when he appeared at the 2025 VA Showcase. But his biggest fear came true.

Quincy had enough reason to be confident going into the 500m race at the event. Last year, in his season-opening performance in the same race at the VA Showcase, he recorded the second-fastest US-age group all-time mark 1:01.27, narrowly missing Will Sumner’s national high school record by 0.02 seconds. This year, he had entered the race after a new personal best of 1:17.19 in the short track 600 meters, setting a new meet record at the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic at The Armory last month. Yet there was a plot twist as Andrew Salvodon spectacularly stole the spotlight.

At this year’s VA Showcase, Salvodon didn’t just win the boys’ 500m dash. He made history, shattering the national record and sending shockwaves through the track and field world. With an astonishing 1:00.49, he obliterated Sumner’s 2022 benchmark of 1:01.25. This was indeed a mic-drop moment for high school sports. However, Quincy, ever the determined fighter, is now transforming that loss into a powerful message for the basketball community.

In a recent Instagram video shared by Howard University Men’s Basketball, Quincy Wilson, named captain for the day, gave an inspiring talk to the team. “So basically, they told me I was going to come out here and give a speech. And I don’t like to write it down. I like to just speak from the heart,” he began. And dived into a story of both triumph and defeat.

Reflecting on his achievements, he said, “I’ve won this gold medal. I’ve won a lot of things, won every national championship that I’ve been in.” However, he quickly reminded the team that even champions face setbacks. “Last weekend I ran my first track meet, and I lost. I got beat, the dude that beat me broke the national record and things like that.”

Quincy emphasized how losing was just part of the journey, saying, “But at the end of the day, the guy that came out there that beat me said, it doesn’t matter who steps on that track, who steps against them, he’s going to give them their best effort.” He tied that lesson back to the basketball team, telling them, “Y’all both have the same record, 8 and 8, 8 and 10. And y’all go out there and give them the best record.”

And even if things don’t go as planned in the first half, he encouraged, “You got two halves.” Quincy shared how he bounced back after a tough start: “What I did, I lost the first half, then I came back the next day. Came back the next day and me and my team, we came back and broke the national record.”

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Wrapping it up with a message of unity, Quincy said, “If y’all got brotherhood, y’all gonna stick together, y’all get the dub.” He closed with a powerful reminder: “It doesn’t matter who you guys are going out there against… If it’s the best player out there, it could be LeBron James. You guys stay together, he could be out there, and you guys can play together, and y’all are going to get the dub today.”

The Howard University men’s basketball team encountered yet another challenging defeat on January 15, trailing by double digits against Bowie State. However, they were able to stage a strong comeback, but ultimately succumbed in the final moments. Jaden Gray’s last three points clinched a 79-76 victory for Morehouse College in the MLK Day Classic. It left the audience in disbelief. As for Quincy Wilson, he is an ardent admirer of a towering basketball star who he had the opportunity to meet during the Olympics!

Quincy Wilson meets his idol!

Quincy Wilson opened up about his unforgettable debut at the Paris Olympics. There he got a firsthand look at the sheer dedication of athletes from all around the world. Staying in the Olympic Village was a dream come true. But what stood out was meeting his idol, LeBron James. “I stayed in the Olympic village. Yes, I did. My favorite person that I got to see was LeBron James. LeBron James is the GOAT. LeBron James is everybody’s idol. I just think he is the GOAT.”

Wilson was part of the U.S. men’s 4x400m relay team that clinched gold. And made history as the youngest U.S. track athlete to win a gold medal. But for him, it wasn’t just about the win. It was the bigger picture of being in the Olympic space, surrounded by athletes who had poured their hearts into years of preparation.

“From the track, I’m just thankful that I was able to get the moment. And just meet anybody I’ve never met before and it was just a great experience basically seeing people from different countries, seeing people from different like coming from different places and we all coming together to compete for one thing that we have been training for four years which is one great thing to see.”

As he prepares for the 2025 competition Quincy’s Olympic experience has fueled his appreciation and determination. After meeting LeBron and seeing professional athletes’ deep commitment to their sports, this young champion felt more eager about his future.