Quincy Wilson made the slow rise towards stardom. The 16-year-old narrowly missed out on making a historic debut in the 400m amid a raucous crowd at Stade de France. But the prodigious sprinter contested at the U.S. Olympic Trials amidst players he has always looked up to. And when everything was said and done, the wunderkind had earned a spot on the USA’s 4x400m relay team. Could you imagine debuting on the world’s biggest stage in your teens? He didn’t have to!

The United States has always shown up big in track and field at the Olympics, but in Paris, Quincy brought a twist. He became the youngest male U.S. track Olympian in 60 years. The last time Team USA had a teenage prodigy like this was back in 1964, when Jim Ryun hit the scene at 17. And Quincy didn’t just show up—he left France with a gleaming gold medal, thanks to his performance in the relay heats. At this rate, he’s got people comparing his moves to another teenage icon. None other than the King of Pop!

Quincy Wilson’s coach draws the curtains of the wunderkind’s popularity

On an October 28 episode of the Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast, Joe Lee, the mastermind behind Bullis School’s powerhouse track program, gave listeners a peek into the post-Paris whirlwind for Quincy Wilson. After helping Team USA qualify in the 4x400m relay heats—and contributing to that gold-medal win—Quincy’s life back home took a whole new pace. Host Mike Cunningham asked if the return to the States had brought any changes, and Lee didn’t hold back: “When you have someone who has Michael Jackson’s status, and I’m not saying Quincy does, but trust me, like he can’t, there a lot of… he can’t go to a store without people stopping on them.” 

Even before the sprinter etched his name in the history books in Paris, he made waves with his stellar performances on the track. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, the 16-year-old shattered the U18 record 2 times in three days. Here’s the kicker. The record held by Darrell Robinson had stood strong for 12 years. In round 1, he clocked a blistering 44.66s. But he later improved upon it with 44.59s in the semi-finals. Even though he couldn’t qualify as an individual athlete, this is a remarkable feat.  

It’s obvious why the youngling is making the headlines, but there’s a massive con. Joe Lee added, “Sometimes he is mobbed.” As scary as this experience sounds, how has the coach been handling it? “I’m excited for him, and I, I know I’m very comfortable being me,” he admitted. Quincy Wilson’s debut stint at the Olympics catapulted him into the spotlight. So, one would expect the coach to use this to their advantage. However, Lee feels differently. 

The coach admitted that he never had to specify that he was the Olympian’s coach. “I don’t need that. Because that’s just like I told the kids all the time, like… ‘Look, track is something that you do, but it doesn’t solely define who you are,” he confessed. So if he’s telling his tutees to register that in their minds, it only seems fair for him to practice what he preaches, right? While the wunderkind’s coach had high praise for him, this isn’t all he received. 

The Olympian receives a massive honor after his Parisian stint

The journey leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics might have been tumultuous for the 16-year-old. But it was worth it when he got to flaunt the gold hardware around his neck. Representing your nation at the Olympics is not easy, so it only makes sense to commemorate the sprinter for his accomplishments.

Ebony Magazine recently shared a list of their 2024 #EBONYPower100 Generation Next recipients. What’s that you ask? The list contains a stellar lineup of rising stars who have taken charge in their respective fields. Yep, you guessed it right! Quincy Wilson has been recognized for his monumental accomplishments in the sport. 

So, who else made it to the list, you ask? The lineup is a healthy mix of rising stars from several fields and categories. Ayra Starr, Gabby Shephard, Angel Reese, Monet McMichael, Kai Cenat, and more have been included. But here’s the kicker. The 16-year-old is the only track and field athlete on the list. Hold on! There’s more.

In September, Sports Illustrated unveiled its annual 2024 Power List. They celebrated 50 of the most influential figures in sports. Even though he wasn’t prominently featured on the list, he did get a special mention. The athlete was on the ‘These Teen Titans Are 2024’s Rising Sports Stars’ list. He is also the first and only active track and field athlete in this one as well. While the sprinter has several more years to prove his mettle on the track, Joe Lee already believes he matches the King of Pop’s popularity level.