Quincy Watts attended the University of California where he excelled not
only as an athlete but also as a wide receiver in the college football
team. He was also a promising basketball player in high school. It was,
however, in athletics where he made his name. He was part of the USA
4x400m relay team at the World Championship in 1991 where he ran a leg
of 43.40, which, at the time, was the third fastest ever. Despite his
efforts, America finished a surprise 2nd behind Great Britain. In 1992,
by far his most successful year, he won the Olympic 400m title. He twice
broke Lee Evans' Olympic record of 43.86, (set at altitude during the
1968 games in Mexico), clocking 43.71 in his semi-final, before going on
to record 43.50 in the final (pictured above).
He was again a
member of the 4 x 400m relay team, running the second leg in 43.10. With
support from Andrew Valmon, Michael Johnson and Steve Lewis they
smashed the Olympic record in a time of 2: 55.74. After the Olympics,
Watts was a household name, even in the traditionally Track & Field
shy United States. His face appeared on billboards and television
campaigns. Over the coming years, with the possible exceptions of
overall third place in the IAAF Grand Prix in 1993 and a gold medal in
the Goodwill Games of '94, he could not reproduce the form that had
brought him so much success in 1992.
In 1994 & 1995 he failed to
break 45 seconds and in 1996 finished a disappointing 7th in the US
Olympic trials in a time of 45.64. Watts, like so many others, suffered
in a country rich with talent over one lap. This, coupled with a first
past the post selection process for major championships, limited his
opportunities. Overshadowed by Michael Johnson, he retired in 1997. (Matthew Akehurst)
|
ANNUAL PROGRESS 400m.
| 2001 |
46.34 |
Long Beach, CA (USA) |
09 JUN 2001 |
| 2000 |
46.30 |
Northridge, CA (USA) |
24 MAR 2000 |
| 1999 |
46.17 |
Long Beach, CA (USA) |
19 JUN 1999 |
| 1997 |
46.69 |
Modesto, CA (USA) |
10 MAY 1997 |
| 1996 |
44.76 |
Atlanta, GA (USA) |
16 JUN 1996 |
| 1995 |
45.28 |
Air Force Academy (USA) |
29 JUL 1995 |
| 1994 |
45.03 |
Zürich (SUI) |
17 AUG 1994 |
| 1993 |
44.13 |
Sestriere (ITA) |
28 JUL 1993 |
| 1992 |
43.50 |
Barcelona (ESP) |
05 AUG 1992 |
| 1991 |
44.98 |
New York, NY (USA) |
15 JUN 1991 |
PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES.
| 100 Metres |
10.30 |
-0.1 |
Provo, UT (USA) |
25 JUL 1987 |
|
|
| 100 Metres |
10.17 * |
+3.8 |
Los Angeles, CA (USA) |
30 MAY 1987 |
|
|
| 200 Metres |
20.50 |
-0.4 |
Provo, UT (USA) |
25 JUL 1987 |
|
|
| 300 Metres |
32.07 |
|
Gateshead (GBR) |
30 JUL 1993 |
|
|
| 400 Metres |
43.50 |
|
Barcelona (ESP) |
05 AUG 1992 |
|
|
| 4x100 Metres Relay |
39.27 |
|
Sudbury (CAN) |
31 JUL 1988 |
|
|
| 4x400 Metres Relay |
2:54.29 |
|
Stuttgart (GER) |
22 AUG 1993 |
WR, AR |
|