American sprint icon gives insight on how exciting 10th grade sprint star Quincy Wilson should be nurtured

American sprint icon gives insight on how exciting 10th grade sprint star Quincy Wilson should be nurtured

Mark Kinyanjui 15:54 - 09.05.2024

Quincy Wilson broke Usain Bolt's 400m record at u18 level in February, and recently set more insane records at the Penn Relays.

American sprint icon Justin Gatlin has provided valuable insights into the development of budding 400m sensation Quincy Wilson, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach to his career progression.

Wilson, who has been making waves in the athletics world, showcased his exceptional talent by setting an under-18 world record for the indoor 400 meters in March 2024. 

His remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record held by Tyrese Cooper, setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead.

Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin emphasized the significance of nurturing Wilson's talent without overwhelming him with excessive pressure or fast-tracking his development.

"Have fun with it. Still have him kind of half in, half out," Gatlin advised, suggesting a measured approach that allows Wilson to maintain his trajectory while gaining valuable experience.

Gatlin proposed a strategy that involves Wilson participating in both high school meets and professional races, gradually immersing him into elite competition while still fostering camaraderie with his teammates.

"Not going out there to win per se but to go out and say ‘You know what? I beat two professionals yesterday, that is growth,’ then come back maybe a month later, run another professional race, maybe go to nationals," Gatlin outlined, emphasizing the importance of gaining experience and understanding the sport.

“That will give him experience but also slow the process down and start to understand the sport in the game and then those losses are not really losses, they are lessons.

“It is not the pressure of, ‘here is the shoe contract, here is an agent, here is a professional coach, alright, go out there’.”

Highlighting the potential pitfalls of placing too much pressure on young athletes, Gatlin stressed the importance of managing expectations and allowing room for growth.

"We have seen a lot of these young child star young athletes and everyone rides high on their success, they throw him onto the shark pit, and the next thing you know, they do not know how to emotionally compute losing," Gatlin explained.

By adopting a strategic approach that balances competition with development and fosters a healthy mindset, Gatlin believes that Wilson can navigate the challenges of elite athletics and fulfill his immense potential on the world stage.

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