"Running at American trials is no joke"- Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin question Quincy Wilson's snub from mixed relay at Paris Olympics

Retired sprinters Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay, and Justin Gatlin weighed in on Quincy Wilson's omission from the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 16-year-old had an impressive 2024 season, as he became the youngest US male track and field Olympian in history.

He achieved the feat through his brilliant performances at the Olympic Track and Field Trials, where he ran under the 45.00s mark thrice, with 44.66s in the heats, 44.59s in the semifinals, and 44.94s in the final. Wilson's performances secured his qualification for the Olympics.

During Asafa Powell’s podcast conversation with Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, they questioned the exclusion of the young athlete from the US mixed relay team at the Olympics. Gay expected Wilson to compete in the mixed relay but had heard rumors about the athlete being injured. He said (41:20 onwards):

“I thought he would be running the mixed relay for sure. So I don't know if he was injured. I heard rumors that maybe he's injured or maybe something else. I don't know, I feel like he earned his spot for the simple fact he ran 44:20."

Powell spoke about how age or experience should never be a factor in considering who should be in the mix. He said:

“It shouldn't be age or experience. Running at American trials is no joke. You're running against the guys who are probably going to win the finals at the Olympic Games."

He then cited Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as an example that experience isn't always crucial when you have talent. He added:

“I remember back in 2008 when they wanted to take Shelly-Ann out of the 100m because they're saying that Veronica Campbell is a lot more experienced and all that stuff and Shelly went and she won the 100m final in 2008. So it shouldn't come down to that. He [Quincy Wilson] would have run a way better leg than anybody else, he's young and super fast.”

Gatlin then chimed in, adding:

“When I watched Shelly-Ann at the start line in 2008, she was just happy to be there. She's just smiling like I'm just happy to be here. I think you shouldn't just use that as a reason why you shouldn't put somebody young out there. Our sport is open to everybody, age doesn't matter.”

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A look into Quincy Wilson’s remarkable 2024 season

Quincy Wilson alongside the Washington Nationals mascot before the game against the Chicago Cubs (Photo via Getty Images)

Quincy Wilson first rose to prominence when he ran an impressive 45.76s in the 400m at the 2024 New Balance Nationals Indoors. He then impressed with two remarkable splits of 44.37s in the heats and 44.69s in the final in the 4x400m relay for Bullis School at the 2024 Penn Relays.

Wilson then showed his brilliance at the Olympic Track and Field Trials. Before his participation at the Olympics, he recorded another sensational run in the 400m with a time of 44.20s at the Holloway Pro Classic.

Amid rumors of his injury and exclusion from the mixed relay team, Wilson finally made his Olympic debut, and ran a 47.27s in the men’s 4x400m relay heats. Despite him not featuring in the final, the USA team went on to win gold, making Quincy Wilson the youngest male track and field Olympic gold medalist in history.