Quincy Wilson, 16, Makes History As Team USA's Youngest Ever Male Track & Field Olympian

While the rest of us were goofing around in high school at his age, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson is headed to Paris to represent Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

By making the 4x400 relay team, Wilson became the youngest male track and field athlete ever to represent the United States in the Olympic Games.

Wilson announced the news on Instagram on Sunday night — writing in all caps: "WE GOING TO THE OLYMPICS."

While the relay team will not officially be announced until July 8, Wilson's coach Joe Lee confirmed the info to USA TODAY. Lee said he got the call from USA Track & Field, then immediately phoned the young phenom to tell him the news.

"I was extremely nervous, and then he called me and said just like, 'Unfortunately, we have some bad news,'" Wilson told ESPN. "And then he was like, 'I'm just kidding. We're going to Paris.'"

During the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Oregon, Wilson set the world record for under-18 runners in the 400-meter, finishing in 44.66. Then, two days later, he broke his own record with a time of 44.59.

"When I got the call, I was like, I was ecstatic," Wilson said. "I started running around the house. It was just a moment for me because everybody dreams about going to the Olympics as a young kid."

Wilson said he's been dreaming about competing in the Olympics for a long time. Well, as long as you can in just 16 short years of life. His light-bulb moment came while watching the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. At the time, Wilson was competing on the Junior Olympic team.

"I remember I see Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt go head-to-head, and I was just like, 'I want to be up there one day,'" Wilson said. "And I told my mom, dad, and now, it's the dream come true."

Quincy Wilson is set to begin his junior year at Bullis School in Potomac, Md., this fall. But if he's a few days late for the start of the semester, his teachers will just have to understand.