By: Olivia Ho

Quincy Wilson is running right for the finish line, he’s not slowing down, and whoosh! He’s through the finish line to be enveloped by cheers, but that’s not it, he’s broken a world record he had just set!

During the Trials on Jun 23, Wilson broke the world record set by Darrel Robinson of Tacoma, Wash. Then he broke the record he had just set again the next day by running the 400 in just 44.59 seconds.

Wilson wasn’t one of the top three after competing in Monday’s finals which meant he wouldn’t get to go to Paris. However, he could get a spot on the 4×400 relay pool which would allow him to be the youngest American to compete in then Olympics. Wilson never thought that he would ever get to the Monday final and that it had surprised him.

“It means a lot to me because it means my hard work has been paying off,” Wilson says. “I’m just excited for myself.”

Wilson’s many achievements not only surprised and inspired him. He went beyond his own expectations and it’s fueling his motivation and energy but also spreading it around him. His competitors caught this, especially Michael Norman, who also advanced to the final says, “It’s spectacular. A 16-year-old coming out here, competing like a true competitor, not letting the moment get too big but living in the moment.”

For now, Wilson needs to keep on going because his chance, potential, and talent aren’t going to give up on him soon. “I can’t go back and be disappointed because at the end of the day, I’m 16 running grown-man times.”