In London Tony McQuay was part of the men's 4x400-meter relay team that failed to win gold at the Olympic Games for the first time since 1972.
Instead, the men's team took silver. Most Olympians would be thrilled with the medal, but McQuay vows that the U.S. will do better than silver at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
"Four years from now, it will never happen again," McQuay said during a recent interview with Flotrack.org. "I promise that myself. … Four years down the line I plan on doing it even better and represent the U.S. in the 400 meter and 4x(400 meter) relay."
McQuay ran the 400-meter individual event and failed to advance to the final in London.
In addition, McQuay ran the third leg of the men's 4x400 relay at the Olympic Games, where he handed the baton off to Olympic veteran Angelo Taylor. Then, Taylor was overtaken in the final lap by Ramon Miller of the Bahamas.
The final lap was tough for McQuay to watch, as the 22-year-old was used to anchoring relays himself for his Florida Gator relay teams.
"I believe i would have been able to pull it home strong. That's something I just have a passion for -- the 4x4 and running the last leg, being under that pressure," McQuay said during the Flotrack.org interview. "I believe Angelo did an excellent job for what he's done for the USA team. (The Bahamas team was) just able to put it on strong. Angelo had a lot of years under his belt for track and field. He's a true legend in track and field."
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Sandra Johnson is a longtime Olympic fan. While working for the United States Olympic Committee and living in the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Johnson had the opportunity to immerse herself in the Olympic Movement. Follow her on Twitter: @SandraJohnson46
