Vernon Norwood pumped for Quincy Wilson's first day of school after winning gold with him at Paris Olympics

Vernon Norwood played a crucial role in Quincy Wilson's campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024, promising the youngster that he would bring him a gold medal after running slow in the Round 1. As the 16-year-old runner gears up for his first day of school following the end of summer vacations, the veteran quarter-miler was all hyped up.

Wilson rose to the limelight after breaking multiple records in the high school meets. He entered the Olympic Trials in the 400m race, and in the first round only, the 16-year-old broke the U18 world record, clocking a sensational 44.66s. Two days later, he broke the record again in the semifinals.

Wilson took 0.07 seconds off the time he clocked in Round 1, running 44.59s to qualify for the finals. However, he fell slightly short in the finals. Wilson finished sixth and made it to the Olympics in the 4x400m relay. The 26-year-old ran 47.30s for the first leg in Paris before handing the baton to Vernon Norwood as the USA managed to qualify for the finals.

While he didn't run in the finals, Norwood and Co. won the gold medal in the finals, making Wilson the youngest-ever male track Olympian to win the gold medal. The end of the Paris Olympics also brought the end of summer vacations for the 16-year-old, and according to Norwood, September 2 is his first day. Norwood seemed pumped up for Wilson’s first day of school, writing on X:

".@QuincyWilson5 First day of school tmrw my boy!"

Vernon Norwood also shared a picture where Wilson was cheering for him and the USA 4x400m relay team in the finals. USA was in control throughout the race until a last-minute scare from Letsile Tebogo. They nonetheless managed to win gold as Rai Benjamin held off the Botswana sprinter.

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Vernon Norwood promised and delivered the gold for Quincy Wilson at the Paris Olympics

The Olympic Games-Paris 2024 - Vernon Norwood (Source: Getty)

Quincy Wilson’s first leg split of 47.30s was slower by Vernon Norwood's standards, and to not let the 16-year-old get disappointed, the Olympic champion gave a pep talk to the youngster after the preliminary round.

"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 16 years old," Norwood told Citius Magazine in an interview.

He ran the second leg again in the 4x400m relay finals as Rai Benjamin anchored the USA to the gold medal in an Olympic record time of 2:54.43. Norwood also won the silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay competition.