Olympic gold medalist and observe and area athlete Quincy Wilson introduced his dedication to the College of Maryland on Monday. On the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 17-year-old was the youngest track-and-field athlete to earn a gold medal for america. He’s additionally the primary athlete to have participated within the Olympics and to hitch this system in Maryland.
Quincy Wilson selected the College of Maryland over different gives
Wilson acquired gives from South Carolina, Southern California, Texas A&M and UCLA. He will probably be becoming a member of Maryland after finishing his present senior yr on the Bullis Faculty in Potomac.
“You’re higher than me in each method, and I can’t be prouder,” Wilson’s father stated previous to the announcement, in accordance with WTOP.
“Quincy is a generational athlete who has the upside to proceed to thrive on the prime of our sport,” head coach Andrew Valmon added in a press launch. “His assist system right here at Maryland, in his residence state, is unmatched. I’m excited to get to work on this subsequent part of his journey.”
Wilson highlighted the significance of staying in his residence state to pursue his research and coaching. He stated it could permit him to maintain having fun with the comforts of residence, comparable to his mom’s cooking, whereas pursuing his collegiate profession.
“I by no means actually wished to observe a variety of different athletes; I at all times wished to begin a pattern,” Wilson stated, in accordance with The Washington Submit. “I hope a variety of different athletes from the DMV, once they selected to go to highschool, it may be Maryland.”
Wilson additionally attributed his relationship with Valmon as having performed a giant half in accepting the provide at Maryland.
“It was nice to have one other Olympian as my coach, to have the ability to discuss to [a] former world champion, Olympic champion, 400-meter world file holder,” he advised The Washington Submit. “We are able to have related conversations. … I’m glad I might be in the identical footwear to somebody that’s achieved it, similar to me, in my similar occasion.”
Valmon competed within the 4×400 meter relay race and received gold medals on the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. He nonetheless owns the world file set on the 1993 World Championships for the relay race.
Quincy Wilson turned the youngest track-and-field male Olympian in U.S. historical past
At simply 16 years outdated, Wilson was chosen to symbolize Group USA on the Paris Olympics within the males’s 4×400 meter relay race. He made historical past because the youngest track-and-field male Olympian in U.S. historical past in the course of the competitors.
Wilson received a number of accolades exterior of the Olympics. He was named All-Met Athlete of the 12 months 4 occasions in a row and received six New Stability observe nationwide championships along with his highschool, and presently holds the under-18 world file within the 400-meter race. In 2024, Wilson was named the USATF Youth Athlete of the 12 months.
“To my household, buddies, coaches, teammates, lecturers and mentors, thanks for at all times being in my nook, supporting me, believing in me and pushing me to be my finest,” he stated earlier than committing to Maryland, per WTOP.
Wilson can be the primary Olympian to hitch the track-and-field program. A number of athletes have gone on to take part within the competitors after becoming a member of the college.
“I began my legacy in 2024 after the Summer season Olympic Video games, and I had the entire metropolis behind me,” he stated, in accordance with The Washington Submit. “With 2028 coming, I wish to have the entire metropolis behind me, and I’m able to do it for the College of Maryland.”