From fourth to first: American Quincy Hall claims Olympic 400M gold in thrilling comeback

Hall continues the streak of triumphs for the USA in Track & Field

American runners are making waves at the Paris Olympic Games, and Quincy Hall is the latest athlete to turn heads for their gold medal performance.

Hall’s comeback win shocks Track & Field world

On Wednesday, Hall delivered a remarkable performance in the 400 meters, turning a fourth-place position into a stunning first-place finish in Saint-Denis.

The 26-year-old sprinted past Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago before overtaking Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, achieving a personal-best time of 43.40 seconds.

This time places Hall as the fourth-fastest man ever to run the 400 meters.

“I just won,”Hall said to reporters.

“It’s over. Next four years, I can say I’m Olympic champion.”

Hall’s victory was achieved by a mere 0.04 seconds ahead of Hudson-Smith, whose second-place finish at 43.44 seconds is now the fifth-fastest time ever recorded in the event.

USA’s dominant streak in track continues

This incredible win comes just a day after Cole Hocker secured gold for the Americans in the men’s 1500 meters with a similarly dramatic finish.

Noah Lyles had also set the stage on Sunday with a gold in the 100 meters, coming from behind to win by the slimmest of margins.

With his sensational performance, Hall became the first American to win Olympic gold in the 400 meters since LaShawn Merritt in 2008.

Reflecting on his journey, Hall attributed his success to his determination and resilience.

“I’ve got determination,”Hall said.

“That’s what got me to that line. A lot of hurt, a lot of pain.”

Hall’s journey to the top has been marked by significant challenges.

Initially focusing on the 400-meter hurdles, Hall decided to switch to the open 400 meters two years ago.

This decision has clearly paid off, as he has since emerged as one of the elite runners in the event.

His breakthrough came in 2023 when he represented the U.S. at the World Championships in Budapest, earning a bronze medal and steadily lowering his career-best times.