Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell and more react as Quincy Wilson crowned USATF Youth Athlete Of The Year

Gabby Thomas, Masai Russell, and other American athletes congratulated Quincy Wilson as the Olympian was named USATF Young Athlete of The Year. The high-schooler had a breakthrough season in 2024, becoming the youngest-ever male American to compete in any track and field event.

Wilson came guns blazing following his 16th birthday in January, setting a US High School 400m record at the New Balance Nationals in 45.76s. A few months later, he broke the U18 world record in the event twice in two days at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The 16-year-old was named to the USA relay team for the Paris Olympics and competed in the men's 4x400m relay. While he didn't compete in the finals, Team USA went on to win the gold, making him the youngest-ever male American to win gold in any track and field event.

Following the record-breaking season, Wilson was voted the USATF Young Athlete of The Year, receiving congratulatory messages from fellow American Olympians.

Three-time Paris Olympics gold medalist Gabby Thomas showed her support with a series of emojis, posting:

"🙌🏽🙌🏽👏🏽"

Masai Russell, who is a good friend of Wilson as well, also expressed her support through emojis.

"🤝🏽❤️", she commented

400m Olympic champion Quincy Hall commented:

"Big Wilson 🐶🐶"

Vernon Norwood, who mentored the 16-year-old at the Games, and also ran with him in the 4x400m relay, also congratulated the high-schooler.

"Congrats my boy! 🙏🏿," he wrote

Gabby Thomas, and more react to Quincy Wilson's Athlete of the Year win (Image: Getty)

Wilson will graduate from Bullis High School in 2026 and has no intentions of going professional yet. He is already looking out for programs for his collegiate career.

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"I will keep looking up, keeping out here like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone" - Quincy Wilson after a relatively slower run at the Paris Olympics

Chicago Cubs v Washington Nationals - Quincy Wilson poses with mascot (Source: Getty)

Quincy Wilson ran the first leg of the USA men's 4x400m relay during the preliminary round at the Paris Olympics, and while he didn't put up his best performance, the 16-year-old said it was a dream come true moment for him.

“This was a dream come true. I didn’t run my best, but I knew I had a great team on my hands. I wasn’t nervous, I was 100% myself," he told Olympics.com in an interview following the race.

The U18 world record holder also related his story to 400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who also competed as a 16-year-old in her debut Olympics and didn't qualify for the final.

"I know I have multiple world championships, multiple Olympics to go to, so it’s one of many. I will keep looking up, keeping out here like Sydney McLaughlin. So I will come back and get better for next year. This is just but a start," Quincy Wilson added.

McLaughlin-Levrone went on to win two gold medals and break the 400m hurdles world record in her next Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games and Wilson will hope to replicate the same.