Quincy Wilson 2024 vs Sydney Mclaughlin 2016: Who was more impressive?

Sydney. She's said herself the pressure got to her in Rio, otherwise she would've been in an Olympic final at 16. She ran 51.8 indoors in the flat 400, that ranked her 11th in the world that year, and she was better at the hurdles. Quincy is about the closest someone has come since (although Knighton was better than both at 17).

Syd. She had the 5th fastest time going into the 2016 Olympics at just 16! She was expected to make the team and even possibly contend for a medal.

You can claim that the 400m is a more competitive event but the 400H is incredibly technical and takes years to master hence why you almost never see a teen among the best in the world.

Besides, Sydney also broke Sanya Richard Ross' 400m indoor HSR and U18 record earlier that year (and had already set age-group records in the 60H and 100H) so that shows you good she was across other events as a comparison.

Quincy's performance was also brilliant and he seems on track for greatness. It's fun to see it all unfold.

I feel like it's kinda hard to compare the two, partially because girls mature physically faster than boys, and it is more common to see a young phenom that's a girl.

I think that Quincy Wilson is more impressive if you consider the fact that he likely is in the early/middle of puberty, while Syd was at the end or even done with puberty.

If you are strictly looking at their times and achievements, then Syd wins by a decent amount.

Wrong thread genius

The comparison is killing the sport! This is basically apples to oranges. Let's just celebrate the moment and appreciate the greatness we saw both times.

On paper, it's Sydney.

However, girls tend to mature earlier than boys. Wilson still looks like a little kid. I'm guessing he's still got a lot of growth and improvement ahead of him.

Syd because she made the team and really could of medaled if she didn’t choke

I think Quint because how puberty affects boys vs girls. Along with the fact that the 400 is more competitive than 400h. No disrespect to Syd who did something ridiculous when she qualified.

Anyone old enough to remember Dwayne Evans? He was 17 when earned the bronze medal in the ‘76 Olympics in the 200m.

Wilson. Men's 400m is a vastly more competitive event.

Everyone saying the men's 400m is more competitive is a FOOL.

Syd got the 3rd USA spot ahead of Kori Carter who WON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017 and won the USA championship in 2014.

5th in the Olympic Trials behind Syd was Cassandra Tate who got bronze in 2015 and who won a world indoor championship in the 4x4.

It's not about who she beat, it's about the talent pool. How many people race the women's 400mh? How many people race the men's open 400?

It's like saying the best athletes in the world are playing golf. They're probably playing soccer.