“Quincy’s superpower is that he literally doesn’t see any limits,” said Joe Lee in 2023. This rings true given his family background, which is steeped in athletics. Quincy Wilson, 16, is the youngest male American track Olympian after being selected for the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team. But his success has been consistent since 2022. At just 14 years old, Wilson secured his fifth national AAU Junior Olympic Games title, breaking the under-14 national record in the U.S. But that’s not all!

In January 2024, he set a new indoor 500m world record for 18-year-olds. Despite his outstanding achievements, Quincy maintains a grounded life at home, where he attends to chores and surrenders his phone to his parents to stay focused and avoid distractions. His family rarely discusses track, aiming to keep him grounded as a normal high school student. With such strong support and upbringing, one wonders who are the people making sure he doesn’t get too big for his boots.

Meet rising track and field star Quincy Wilson’s parents

Wilson, who has been running competitively since age 8, keeps stacking up accomplishments. His parents, Monique and Roy Wilson, played an important role in his journey. When it was time for him to join high school, they sought a school with a coaching staff capable of nurturing his potential. This even prompted his family to relocate from Chesapeake, Va., to Gaithersburg, Md., so, that Wilson could attend Bullis School in Potomac. Despite also shining in football as a safety and running back/wide receiver, Wilson’s true prowess shines brightest on the track.

Quincy Wilson’s athletic pedigree runs deep. His mother is in the athletic hall of fame at Severn School, excelling in soccer and basketball before playing soccer at Barton College in North Carolina. His father played football at Navy, and his older sister competed in sprints at James Madison. Wilson is carving out his own legacy, and despite a stellar season, he remains hungry for more.

With his family’s support and his own continuous drive, he’s on the fast track to success, proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He’s hitting the ground running and showing no signs of slowing down, ensuring he doesn’t rest on his laurels or get a swelled head. However, the proudest moment for his parents came after breaking the U18 record in June.

What did the parents have to say about Wilson making it to the Paris Olympics?

Quincy Wilson’s performance on June 21 marked a historic moment as he shattered barriers in the men’s 400m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Clocking 44.66 seconds, he not only won his heat but also set a new world U18 record, surpassing Justin Robinson’s 2019 mark of 44.84. Two days later, during the semifinals, Wilson further impressed with a time of 44.59 seconds. Amidst the crowd’s roar and his family’s elation, Wilson’s mother expressed pride. “Just amazing. All his hard work, sweat, and tears have paid off today. And I can’t say anymore that I am just proud of him and let’s keep moving. We are going forward,” she said referring to the Paris Olympics.

His father echoed the same feeling, attributing Wilson’s breakthrough to the unique energy of Hayward Field, “We’ve been talking about this all year—about how he has the U-18 record in him. You know, he just needed an environment to be able to bring it out of him at Hayward Field, and a little bit of Hayward magic!” However, in the final race of the 400m individual event, Quincy Wilson finished sixth. Thus, missing out on an individual spot for the Olympics in 400m.

Nevertheless, fate had better plans for him! He later secured a place on the 4×400-meter relay team for the Paris Olympics. Wilson’s joy is palpable as he sets his sights on even greater achievements on the track and beyond, proving that hard work truly does pay off.