Quincy Wilson could well be staring track immortality in the face. While Wilson failed to earn an individual berth for the Paris Games at the US Olympic Team Trials last month, he has been named as part of the men’s 4x400m relay. The 16-year-old Bullis High student has been shattering records at his will in recent months. And now, his feats seem to have earned him another fan in the form of an Olympic veteran.

Otis Davis rose to international fame after winning the coveted gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the 400m race, the same event in which the teenager Wilson is making ripples today. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the old flagbearer of the USA and the young blood crossed paths. In his recent Instagram story, Quincy shared a snippet from a telephone conversation between him and Davis to celebrate the latter’s 92nd birthday.

Quincy Wilson has admirers in every generation

2024 has been a brilliant year for the rising runner, and that seems like an understatement. From coming within hand reach of the 500m record in his age group at the VA Showcase in January to defining his 400m title at the New Balance Nationals Indoor in March by setting a new U18 world record in the process, Wilson has firmly set his eyes for the stars. Even at the US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Eugene last month, the high schooler took the country by surprise as he went toe-to-toe with the senior sprinters without breaking much of a sweat.

In the first round of the men’s 400m race, Quincy clocked a staggering 44.66 seconds to set a new record, only to push it further in the semis. Placing third in the semi-final race of the event, he managed to lower his time to 44.59. As he advanced to the next round, Quincy broke the 42-year-old U18 record set by Darrell Robison. Justifiably, his colleagues were impressed with the exceptional talent he put on display at Hayward Field, despite the fact that the young Turk placed sixth in the final with a disappointing 44.94-second finish.

Noting the incredible grit shown by Wilson, the winner of the men’s 400mH race at the US Team Trials Rai Benjamin also stated that the teen should get a shot at grabbing glory by the scruff in Paris. After the semifinal sprint, Wilson himself was also heard talking about his jubilation as he breezed past the previous U18 record in two back-to-back runs.

Along with Benjamin and Davis both confiding their trust in young Wilson’s abilities, his coach Joe Lee, and the reigning men’s 100m world champ Noah Lyles also think the youngster has a bright future ahead of him. But will Paris be the place where he rises the ranks and into track stardom? Tell us your predictions in the comments!