Quincy Wilson. His name alone rings loud enough in track and field circles, almost like an echo of his growing legend. As the youngest American Olympian and gold medalist in his sport, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. But now, at 16, he’s approaching that big question: pro or college? And he’s definitely leaving some breadcrumbs! Just a few weeks back, he was spotted checking out Texas A&M, even dropping posts about his University of Georgia visit on social. Before we all get ahead of ourselves, though—pump the brakes—he hasn’t made any big commitments just yet.

Quincy’s playing it cool, keeping his options open as he faces this big moment. His stops at Texas A&M and Georgia might just be the start of his tour, with plenty of schools likely still on the list. But as he stands at this crossroads, a track and field legend has chimed in, hinting that for young prodigies like Quincy, the path ahead isn’t always smooth.

On the Ready Set Go podcast, track star Fred Kerley broke down why young phenoms, like Quincy Wilson, often hit a wall on their way to the top. Chatting with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, Kerley got real about the reality check waiting for these kids. “I feel like, from the 2021 Olympic cycle to now, I haven’t seen none of those phenoms,” he admitted, pointing out just how tough it is for young talent to break into the pro world and actually stick around.

Gatlin jumped in, talking about the insane pressure on these young athletes. Sure, they’re running times like pros, but mentally? Not there yet. Physically? Still catching up. These teens are expected to keep up those speeds, meet after meet, but their bodies—and heads—are just not ready for that. Imagine you’re only 16 and already expected to perform like someone with years of training. Meanwhile, the real pros have it down to science and know how to handle the heat.

Rodney Green threw in another curveball, saying it’s not just about speed; it’s also the grind of travel. Young athletes are sent across the world, often solo, left to handle pressure, culture shock, and being away from their families—yep, it’s as rough as it sounds. “Shoot, not even that,” he said, explaining how these young stars are suddenly alone with agents and new faces, far from their comfort zones.

Kerley wrapped it up by dropping a reality bomb: these kids are “racing strong mans” way too early. Sure, he said it’s “good for publicity, but kids ain’t being kids no more.” But these teens go from dominating their age group to facing pro-level competition where they might not even crack the top 10. “A lot of people don’t understand…these guys are not running fast… It’s that USA—that’s when the season really starts. And all the real dogs still competing,” he explained.

Reflecting on the podcast insights from track legends, it’s no surprise Quincy Wilson is the name on everyone’s lips in track and field. This 16-year-old smashed the under-18 world record at the 2024 Olympic Trials, blazing through the 400m heats in a jaw-dropping 44.66 seconds. As he put it, “I’m 16 years old running…grown man times.” But as Fred Kerley pointed out, talent’s just one part of the game, and reality hit hard for young Quincy.

On August 9, in the 4x400m relay heats, Wilson led off for Team USA, handing off in seventh place after splitting 47.27—a stark contrast to his teammates’ blazing times. Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Chris Bailey all stepped up, helping Team USA finish third behind Great Britain and Botswana. It was a different level, but he hung in there, helping secure their spot in the final.

And Team USA didn’t disappoint. With Bailey, Norwood, Deadmon, and Rai Benjamin taking the baton, they set a new Olympic record of 2:54.43 to claim gold. Though Wilson didn’t get a taste of the final, his Olympic debut was still a breakthrough moment.  As Fred Kerley pointed out, Quincy Wilson’s success might open doors, but it brings a heap of pressure along for the ride. Still, that doesn’t mean he can’t rise to the challenge!

Let’s not forget that plenty of today’s track legends started young too—just look at Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She was making waves as a teenager and now holds six world records to her name! So, if Quincy decides to go pro, he’s got a strong lineup of track and field icons rooting for him every step of the way.

Track and field legends stand behind Quincy Wilson

You heard it right! Quincy Wilson has got the backing of track and field legends Rodney Green and Justin Gatlin! In an episode of Ready Set Go, they chatted about the buzz around Quincy possibly turning pro. Rodney didn’t hold back, saying it could get pretty tricky for someone so young. He pointed out that going from being the top dog in his age group to suddenly facing off against seasoned pros would be a huge shift—one that might shake his confidence a bit. “It’s gonna be really different for somebody like Quincy if he was to turn pro this early… from being first all the time to being in the mix,” he shared.

Rodney made it clear that only a prodigy like Quincy can really understand what that jump feels like. He mentioned how easy it is for young stars to start questioning themselves, asking, “Am I good enough? Did I go pro too early?” From winning since he was like 11 or 12 and always being “the man.” To now, at just 16, if he goes pro, everything would change. He’d be up against older athletes who are seasoned track and field athletes.

Still, Rodney isn’t counting him out! He believes Quincy can “beat the odds” and make it work, especially if he has a strong support system with a coach who understands the pressure and an agent to guide him. Rodney kept it real, saying it’s a big leap for a high school kid who hasn’t even left home yet—it’s a “whole different type of giddy up” when you’re still figuring things out, like learning to drive!