by Deji Ogeyingbo
Quincy Hall found his niche, and it paid off
Two years ago, Quincy Hall made a decision that would change everything.
Up until that point, Hall’s biggest achievements were in the 400m hurdles. He’d won the NCAA and NACAC U23 titles in the same season back in 2019, but despite his hard work and talent, he had never quite made it to the U.S. team. In 2022, he made a tough call. He switched his focus from the hurdles to the flat 400m, hoping it would improve his chances of making the team.
And that decision paid off. Hall went on to win a gold medal in the 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a personal best and world-leading time of 43.40 seconds. It was the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and trust in himself.
“I won’t say I could have been here doing the 400m hurdles,” Hall admitted in an interview with Olympics.com. “I was trying for years, and I never made a USA team doing the 400m hurdles. So, making the switch two years ago… it paid off. I guess I just found my niche.”
In Paris, Hall’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He stormed down the track, leaving everything out there in his race. But for him, it was just another day in the office. “I put myself through a ring of fire, so I’m beating myself up every day,” he said. “Running 43 seconds is nothing compared to what I do in practice.”
At 26, with an Olympic gold medal under his belt, you’d think Hall might be content. But not him. He’s already got his sights set on what’s next. “I did a little bit of my job,” Hall said of his Olympic win. “But if I say the job is finished, that means I’m done running. I’m not done running. I want to get a World Championships gold next year, and I want to get another Olympic gold in 2028.”
Hall’s journey hasn’t been easy. After high school, he worked two jobs to pay for his tuition, food, and housing while attending the College of Sequoias, which didn’t even have student housing or a cafeteria. But through all of it, Hall stayed focused. And now, his hard work is paying off in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
His journey continues with more exciting news—he’s just signed with Grand Slam Track ahead of the first professional track league season in 2025. With his eyes set on new goals, Hall is proving that sometimes, you just have to “keep swimming” like Dory from Finding Nemo says. And Quincy Hall is swimming toward an even brighter future.
