Quincy Hall showcased his incredible determination as he sprinted past one competitor after another in the Olympic 400-meter final, clad in the red, white, and blue of Team USA. With every stride, he had one mantra driving him: “Get home, son! Get home, son!” And that’s exactly what he did. Crossing the finish line first, Hall collapsed to the track and celebrated by making snow angels, a fitting end to another spectacular comeback for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics.
In a race that will be remembered for its breathtaking finish, Quincy Hall closed the gap on three runners in the final stretch, winning the gold medal with a time of 43.40 seconds. He narrowly edged out Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith by just .04 seconds, a victory that placed them as the fourth- and fifth-fastest men in history for the 400-meter distance.
This stunning finish was just the latest in a series of come-from-behind victories for Team USA on the Paris track. The night before, American Cole Hocker pulled off a similar upset in the men’s 1500 meters, and Noah Lyles had done the same in the 100-meter dash, surging to victory at the last possible moment.
“I’ve got determination,”Quincy Hall said after his victory. “That’s what got me to that line. A lot of hurt, a lot of pain.” His words encapsulate the resilience and grit that have defined the U.S. athletes in these Olympic Games, making them the kings of the comeback.
With 100 meters left in the race,Quincy Hall's chances didn't seem promising.
As the eight sprinters approached the final curve, things looked grim for Hall, a 26-year-old South Carolina standout and dog breeder. He trailed about 5 meters behind Hudson-Smith and 2012 champion Kirani James, both ahead of him on the track. While Hall was gaining on Jareem Richards to his outside, it seemed like he was fighting for bronze.
But Hall surged forward with powerful strides, his arms pumping and head bobbing. He passed all his competitors and leaned forward to overtake the Briton, finishing with a dramatic chest thrust. He then collapsed on the track, making snow angels in the 80-degree heat and bright purple surroundings.
“I just kept doing what my coach advised: keep driving, keep driving, and get home,” Hall said afterward.
Amid the excitement, Samukonga from Zambia also made an impressive late surge to secure third place.
Hall’s victory marks the first time an American has won gold in the 400 meters since LaShawn Merritt in 2008. He joins a prestigious list of American champions, including Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner, and Lee Evans, in this challenging sprint event.
Reflecting on his win, Hall said, “I knew they would try to disrupt my race, but it didn’t work. I crossed the finish line thinking, ‘I just won. It’s over. For the next four years, I can call myself an Olympic champion.’