Meet Quincy Hall, the American runner favorite for 400m gold at the Paris Olympics 2024

Quincy Hall is an American athlete, specializing in the 400m flat and 400m hurdles. He is competing in the 400m flat event at the Paris Olympics 2024, where he is the ninth fastest American runner in history, and is a favorite to win the gold after easily qualifying for the finals scheduled for August 7.

Hall rose to prominence in 2016 after breaking a 400m state record at Missouri State High School Activities Association MSHSAA in 46.82s. He joined the University of South Carolina in 2017 and became the Pan American U20 Champion in the 400m hurdles.

In 2019, he won the 400m hurdles NCAA and NACAC U23 titles. As the years progressed, he focused more on the 400m flat and was selected for the 4x400m relay for the 2023 World Championships, where he won his first major gold medal. Hall also won the bronze medal in the individual 400m event.

Quincy Hall qualified for the Paris Olympics after finishing first at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in 44.17s ahead of Vernon Norwood. The world medalist had earlier run times of 45.98, 45.52, 45.02, and 44.68 before competing in the trials.

After qualifying for his maiden Olympics, Hall has announced himself as the medal contender for the 400m. He ran a massive personal best of 43.80s at the Monaco Diamond League to become the ninth-fastest American in history. Michael Johnson leads the list with 43.18, and Hall will have that mark in his mind when he takes the field in the 400m finals on August 7.

Quincy Hall ran 44.28s in the Round of 1 of 400m at the Paris Olympics and directly advanced to the semifinals. He clocked 43.95 to win the semi-final 1 and head into the finals as the favorite.

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“I didn't get out fast enough” - Quincy Hall after running the 400m world lead

2024 Diamond League - Quincy Hall runs a world-leading 43.80s

Quincy Hall was a tad slower at the start of the race, and he admitted to it in the post-race interview. However, the U.S. national champion was quick on the turns and by the end of the last turn, he was already on the field.

In a conversation with Citius Magazine, Hall explained that he approaches every race with equal dedication and effort. Despite competing against faster runners, the 25-year-old emphasized that his only focus was on running his race without worries.

"I don’t let the moment get too big. I just keep working. Today, I didn’t feel like I got out fast enough, but I came solo home and that’s all I wanted," Hall said.

Although there are still a few competitions before the Paris Olympics starts, it's unlikely that Quincy Hall’s world lead will be overtaken. Being the fastest man of the season as he enters the Games will give him a mental edge and boost his confidence. However, it also means there will be increased scrutiny and expectations on the American runner.