“Wish we could hear their conversation.” That was the overwhelming cry across social media when fans witnessed a rare moment: a meeting between greatness past and greatness in the making. On May 31st at Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia, 17-year-old Olympic phenom Quincy Wilson came face-to-face with the four-time Olympic gold medalist himself. The two shared hugs, handshakes, and what looked like a heartfelt exchange, leaving the track world buzzing. And now, the mystery of their chat has finally been cleared up.
Though Quincy didn’t compete at the event, he was there in full support mode, cheering on fellow Americans from the stands at Franklin Field, University of Pennsylvania. Rocking a crisp royal blue polo with white trim, distressed jeans, and clean sneakers with bold red-orange accents, Quincy looked every bit the off-duty star. His black-rimmed glasses and lanyard added the finishing touches.
But beyond the style, it was the moment he shared with Michael Johnson that had everyone asking, What did they talk about? Well, Quincy Wilson just gave fans what they’ve been waiting for. In a new video interview posted by NBC Sports on YouTube, titled “Teen phenom Quincy Wilson on his high school experience, Paris, and plans,” the young sprinter revealed everything.
When asked about his chat with Johnson, Quincy said, “We just talked about a lot of 400 things and a lot of similar things we’re doing, just how I’m doing right now, my season, and what I can do to better myself, improve my times, and things like that.” A simple yet powerful conversation between two athletes who understand the grind of the 400 meters. But one lingering question remained: why was Quincy even at Grand Slam when Michael Johnson cut him short?
A fan today, a star tomorrow? Quincy Wilson eyes the Grand Slam stage
This high school senior from Bullis School in Maryland skipped training and even classes to attend the Grand Slam. But hold on, why? It wasn’t some rebellious move. “I had an off training week this weekend, and I mean off—no meet this weekend. My parents and I all decided that we wanted to come out here and do something fun. My sister was here, home from college, so we decided to come out here and go out to Grand Slam, just see some of the people that I run with, see some of my teammates, and just go cheer them,” Quincy Wilson said.
Turns out, even rising legends need a little fun with family. But why did he choose the GST? Big Plans!!! Earlier this year, Michael Johnson voiced concern about how quickly young athletes, some as young as 13, are being pushed into the professional spotlight. He wrote, “I don’t do hot takes, but this is probably as close as I’ll get to one. The pro track world’s inclusion of and obsession with fast high schoolers as young as 13 years old who haven’t proven themselves on the pro scene (Quincy has) diminishes the value of pro athletes.”
While Quincy Wilson has already shown serious promise, his presence still raises questions about how soon is too soon. As the line between amateur and pro continues to blur, the pressure on young talent is only growing. So, could a Grand Slam be in his future, not just as a fan, but as a competitor? In the same interview, Quincy Wilson was asked, “Do you think that Grand Slam is something that could appeal to you in future years, you know, with doubling and everything?”
His answer was thoughtful: “You never know. Whenever I do decide to go pro, if I do, I think it’ll be a great opportunity. I think it’s a great opportunity for a lot of people in this sport, in track. People are seeing it; it’s two different days, two different events, and I think they’re seeing a lot of variety, a lot of different events, and a lot of different sides of athletes.” For now, he’s soaking it all in. But soon? He might just be center stage.
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