In a recent podcast with Chris Chavez on Citius Mag’s YouTube channel, Vernon Norwood recounted his promise to Quincy Wilson while he headed for the 4×400-meter relay finals.
The 4×400-meter men’s relay was a highly anticipated event at the Paris Olympics. Wilson ran a strong first leg in Round 1 to secure Team USA their finals spot. However, as his teammate revealed, the 16-year-old was dissatisfied with his performance.
When asked about Wilson’s Round 1 performance, Norwood had expressed “110%” faith in his young teammate, confident that he would excel. Keeping Wilson at the first leg was strategic, in an attempt to reduce pressure on the Olympic debutant.
Norwood further mentioned that the young prodigy earned his spot in Paris by demonstrating his abilities during the 2024 season. He also revealed that after the race in Round 1, he offered some encouragement to his teenager teammate and promised him a Gold medal,
“Don’t worry about this. I’m going to get you a gold medal. I promise you.”
The 32-year-old veteran sought to lift Wilson’s spirits and remind him of his youth. He was only 16—facing the challenges of competing at such an elite level. So even if he made mistakes, people wouldn’t hold him accountable. He emphasized that many would envy Wilson’s position and urged him to take pride in his achievements.
️ “I told @QuincyWilson5, ‘Don’t worry about this. I’m going to get you a gold medal. I promise you.’ … I think he was just a little bit disappointed in how he performed, but I’m like, ‘Don’t even worry about that stuff. You’re about to walk away with an Olympic gold medal at… pic.twitter.com/s8QGLpDSLB
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) August 22, 2024
True to his word, Norwood helped deliver his promise to his young Team USA teammate. The United States clinched gold in the men’s 4×400-meter relay, with Rai Benjamin anchoring the team to a finish time of 2:54.43.
This victory secured the gold and set a new Olympic record. Wilson, who participated in the first round, joined his teammates Vernon Norwood, Christopher Bailey, Bryce Deadmon, and Rai Benjamin on the podium’s top step, sharing in the glory of their collective triumph.
