Justin Gatlin has revealed what makes Quincy Wilson special after storming to 400m victory at the 2025 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has lavished praise on 17-year-old sensation Quincy Wilson for his composed and tactical approach in securing victory in the 400 meters at the 2025 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
Wilson, facing a formidable lineup of seasoned quarter-milers including Will Sumner (USA), Jereem Richards (TTO), and Zakithi Nene (RSA), showcased remarkable poise and race strategy beyond his years.
As the race unfolded, Nene led through the first 200 meters in 21.07 seconds, with Wilson positioned in third at 21.20. But rather than panic, the high school junior executed a well-timed surge to take control and ultimately stormed to victory in 45.66 seconds.
Wonderkid athletes like Gout Gout have been earning comparisons to Usain Bolt, and Justin Gatlin is not a fan of it.
The performance not only marked the fastest indoor time of his career but also saw him lower his own U.S. high school and World U18 indoor records, further cementing his status as one of the greatest high school athletes in history.
Wilson finished comfortably ahead of his competition, with Sumner (46.27), Richards (46.49), and Nene (46.56) trailing behind.
Gatlin, speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, marveled at the teenager’s ability to bounce back from his recent 500m race loss to Andrew Salvodon at the 2025 VA Showcase.
In that race, Salvodon not only defeated Wilson but also shattered the national high school record with a blistering 1:00.49 performance.
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Grant Holloway has refused to accept the title of GOAT despite his dominance in the 110mH ever since turning pro in 2019.
“That one loss was not going to define him. At the end of the day, he came back to prove, ‘I am Quincy Wilson,’” Gatlin remarked.
He continued, “‘Cool. I am going to go to these high school meets, do whatever I need to get done, and when I jump in these professional races, I am coming with that heat,’ and he did.”
Gatlin also praised Wilson’s race intelligence, highlighting how the young sprinter managed to dictate the outcome despite being in a vulnerable position.
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Sha’Carri Richardson has explained why she does not regret failing to win gold in the final of the 100 meters in Paris, a race she was widely expected to win.
“I was worried because he was at the top of the track, basically the rabbit, and he had the previous world indoor 400m champion bearing down on his backside coming down that turn. But the way he ran the race was so vet-like.”
“He let those dudes command the race as they came out through his blindside. He saw exactly where they were, saw exactly how they were moving, and all of a sudden, he turned on those Quincy Wilson jets, threw that head back, and he started moving.
“He ran past those dudes, leaving them in daylight, going for the world record.”
With performances like these, Quincy Wilson continues to prove why he is a generational talent, blending raw speed with race maturity well beyond his years.
If his trajectory continues, the young star could soon be challenging for senior world titles, making his mark in track and field history.
