First, it was Noah Lyles‘ hair-splitting finish to win the 100m gold, then came Cole Hocker with an underdog victory, and now Quincy Hall with the 400m gold. It seems the US Track and Field team in Paris is building quite a penchant for dramatic finishes. Hall’s incredible comeback from behind also has everyone from Hollywood stars to former NFL icons buzzing with excitement.

Hall’s performance has captivated everyone because things looked bleak for Team USA as the sprinters neared the final bend. However, just like Cole Hocker in the 1500m event, the 26-year-old turned on the after-burners, jumping from fourth to first place when he crossed the finish line. “As long as I can start the race, I know I can finish,” the newly crowned champion said.

“You can’t outrun a dog. A dog will chase you forever,” added Quincy Hall, explaining the mentality that urged him to chase the win. NFL legend-turned-ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe was absolutely ecstatic with the track athlete’s performance and his will to win. “Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOO @dogg8bg. That’s what I’m talking…” Sharpe wrote on X.

“Running a lifetime best of 43.40 in the biggest moment and ‘TOOK’ gold in the men’s 400 meters. We’re back baby. American men use on the race…. WE BCK!” added the ecstatic analyst. Hollywood star and comedian Kevin Hart made an even more direct reference to the Olympic champion’s dogged will to win.

“Congrats Champ @QuincyHall400 got that Dawg in him!!” Hart posted on X. Last week, Hall told EssentiallySports, “I’m ready to run, and I hope you guys are ready to run too.” Now we know exactly why he was so confident! Quincy Hall also spilled the beans on the secret behind his new PB.

The secret to Quincy Hall’s late surge

Although the 400m falls under the sprint category, it’s the sweet spot between all-out speed and pacing. However, the 26-year-old revealed he has a history of racing in events where pacing is king. “I have a pretty big engine. I used to run cross country. I put a lot of mileage in, a lot of stuff like that,” explained the sprinter. Thanks to his enhanced stamina, the sprinter found the fuel for an incredible push as the rest of the field lost ground.

However, the 4x400m world champion’s strength was another reason behind his success. As Quincy Hall dropped down from middle-distance, running to sprinting, he worked on his strength. The Paris Olympics 400m champion explained that he worked on foot speed and jump to give the explosive power he utilized to perfection during the final stage of the race in Stade de France.

Quincy Hall oozed with confidence after earning Team USA’s first 400m Olympics gold medal since 2008. Last year, the 26-year-old had promised track and field fans that he would get better this year. So, what better way to prove his point than winning an Olympic gold?