As the youngest American Olympian and gold medalist in his sport, Quincy Wilson has a decision to make. At 16, he is approaching that big question: pro or college? He seems to be 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 media. But he hasn’t made any big commitments just yet. He is 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 Wilson, the path ahead isn’t always smooth. Talking about the issue with child prodigies, Fred Kerley said, “I feel like at 16 you are still a sophomore. If I go run tomorrow as a 16-year-old, you gotta run faster than the one next to you. You think us grown a– men give a f— about what the kid running? No.”

“Now you got to do that week in week out. So now, if the kid is running too fast, too early and their coaches and stuff getting more benefit than the kids because I feel like mental health will play a big factor… If a guy is running fast at a young age, they not going to benefit. They ain’t lasting long.”

Further, talking about phenoms not surviving in the long run on the Ready Set Go podcast, Kerley told Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, “I feel like, from the 2021 Olympic cycle to now, I haven’t seen none of those phenoms,” pointing out just how tough it is for young talent to break into the pro world and actually stick around.

Gatlin, who agreed with Kerley, 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. Kerley wrapped it up by dropping a reality bomb: These kids are “racing strong men” way too early. 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,” Kerley 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 is just one part of the game and reality hit hard for young Wilson.

In the men’s 400-meter Olympic trial finals at Hayward Field, Wilson was a fan favorite and put up a strong fight, finishing sixth and just missing a spot in the Paris Olympics. Instead, Quincy Hall claimed victory, setting a personal best of 44.17. Right behind him were the seasoned pros: Michael Norman clocked in at 44.41, with Chris Bailey on his heels at 44.42. Though Wilson didn’t make the individual 400m final, he did snag a spot on the men’s 4x400m relay team, where he felt the full weight of competing with the world’s best.

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 Wilson 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 a previous 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 would be up against older athletes who are seasoned track and field pros.

Still, Rodney isn’t counting him out! He felt Quincy Wilson could beat the odds and make it work, especially if he had a strong support system, a coach who understood the pressure, and an agent to guide him.

Do you think Quincy Wilson will go pro? Let us know in the comments below.