"I don't have to think about track all the time" - Quincy Wilson opens about coping with mental demands of being an athlete due to busy schedule

Quincy Wilson is the youngest male track and field Olympic gold medalist in the sport's history. He is also only 16 and has a hectic schedule balancing his training and school. Recently, the American opened up about how his busy schedule helps him take a break from the mental demands of running track.

Wilson rose to fame earlier this year at the New Balance Nationals Indoors when he clocked a U18 indoor world record of 45.76s in the 4000m finals. He later set the U18 outdoor world record in the 400m while running in the preliminaries of the US Olympic Trials, before bettering his record in the finals, and yet again at the Holloway Pro Classic.

The 16-year-old was named to the Paris Olympics team in July and ran the 4x400m relay preliminary round at the Games. Later, Team USA went on to win gold in the event, making Wilson an Olympic champion. Since returning from Paris, Quincy Wilson has been busy balancing his training and studies, and he told NBC that he enjoys his demanding schedule, saying,

“I can actually enjoy lunch with my friends, go out there and talk, and I don’t have to think about track all the time.I feel like track is a mental sport, and if you’re thinking about it all the time, that’s where you start getting messed up in the head.”

Quincy Wilson on how his studies help him on track

Wilson at the Paris Olympics (Image Source: Getty)

As an Olympic runner, Quincy Wilson enjoys the subject of anatomy and physiology in school, as they help him improve his performance on the track. Speaking to NBC, the youngster revealed that he uses the knowledge from his classes to optimize his performance while running, saying,

“I like studying the muscles and knowing the way my body works. I have a lot of things that I need to track like dorsiflex in my foot. I need to know how I’m putting my foot down in the ground, how I’m going to be able to get fast.”

While Wilson will graduate from high school in two years, the sprinter is unsure of whether he will turn pro after this or pursue a collegiate career in the NCAA. So far, he’s visited Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, but hasn't yet decided on his future.

For now, fans will be excited to see Quincy Wilson begin his 2025. The youngster will be making his season debut at the VA Showcase, where he will arrive as the defending champion in the 500m.