Quincy Wilson put in a stellar performance at the trials in Eugene, Oregon, and despite failing to qualify for the 400 metres individually, the young sprinter will be part of the US team heading to Paris to compete in the 4x400 relay.

Wilson and his coach, Joe Lee, confirmed to US media outlet ESPN that the young athletics prodigy has been named to the national team, making him the youngest male Olympic athlete in US history.

"When I got the call, I was ecstatic," Wilson told ESPN. "I started running around the house. It was an incredible moment for me because everyone dreams of going to the Olympics as a kid."

Wilson, a junior at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, will have the distinction of being the youngest US athlete in history to compete in an Olympic track and field event.

Wilson's dream of competing in the Olympics began during the Rio 2016 Games. At the time, he was competing in the Youth Olympic Games at the age of 8.

"I remember watching Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt go head-to-head and thinking, 'I want to be there one day,'" Wilson said. "I told mquiy mum and dad and now the dream has come true."

Wilson's inclusion came after he posted impressive times in his event. He ran under 45 seconds in three different 400m heats at last week's trials and broke the U18 world record (after 42 years, taking it from Darrell Robinson, who had held it since 1982) in the heats and then in the 400m semi-final.

"I have never been so happy in athletics in my life. I've worked for this moment," said Wilson minutes after his 44.59 semi-final. "It took 42 years for anyone to break this record and I broke it twice in three days.

With the Paris Olympics starting on 26 July, Wilson will be training regularly and plans to run a 400-metre race in London or Miami, while recruiting high school teammates to help him practice relay passes in preparation for his first Olympic Games.

"I'm going to work on improving all my races, making sure I train in every lane. You never know. I could be running the first, second, third or fourth leg," Wilson concluded excitedly.

With his selection to the US 4x400 relay team, the young athlete will become the youngest in his country's history to compete in Saint-Denis, surpassing Arthur Newton, who competed in the 1900 Games at the age of 17.

Has the new Bolt arrived? Only time will tell, but his presence has excited all lovers of American athletics, and he is set to make a name for himself at the Paris 2024 World Championships.