Noah Lyles was looking to maintain his gold medal in the one hundred meters with an equivalent medal in the two hundred meters. On Thursday, the favorite won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and revealed that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days earlier.
He finished with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who won gold, and fellow American Kenny Bednarek, who won silver.
Lyles, a 27-year-old from Northern Virginia, said in an interview with NBC after the race that he woke up early Tuesday “feeling horrible. “
“I knew it was more than just hurting for the 100,” she said. “I woke up the doctors and we got tested, and unfortunately it turned out that I’m COVID positive. ”
Lyles realized almost immediately after the race by asking for water and kneeling. He sat on the side of the court for a long time while the medical staff attended to him. Photographs and videos taken after the event showed it. being removed from the track in a wheelchair.
He said in the interview: “It actually took its toll on me, but I’ve never been prouder of myself for coming here and winning a bronze medal. “
He said he quarantined as long as possible, but never skipped the race.
USA Track & Field said in a statement: “We can verify that Noah Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, August 6. In response, the USOPC [United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee] and USATF temporarily followed all protocols to prioritize his case. the health, well-being of our team and the protection of other competitors.
He continued: “Our number one commitment is to protect Team USA athletes while respecting their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah decided to compete tonight. We respect his resolve and will continue to closely monitor his condition”.
Lyles is scheduled for the 4×100-meter relay race, but told NBC after the 200 meters that he wasn’t sure if he would compete in the event.
“I feel more in favor of letting the American team do its job. They have shown with wonderful certainty that they can take care of this without me,” he said. “If that’s the case today, I can absolutely say, ‘Hey, you’re doing your own thing. They’ve given you more than enough speed to take care of it and get the gold. ‘”
Later on Thursday, Lyles appeared to say in an Instagram post that he would not compete in the tournament, writing, “This will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. “
“It wasn’t the Olympics I dreamed of, but it left a lot of joy in my heart,” Lyles wrote. “I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether it’s for or against me, you have to admit that you saw it, right?See you next time. “
On Sunday, Lyles narrowly edged Kishane Thompson to win the 100-meter gold medal, edging out the Jamaican by just five thousandths of a second. USA’s Fred Kerley rounded out the final medals in the photograph, with the top four separated by just 0. 04 seconds and the top seven by just 0. 09 – literally a blink of an eye.
Bednarek won silver in the two hundred meters in Tokyo, but fell in the one hundred meters in Paris, placing seventh at the Stade de France.
Lyles also won the bronze medal in the 200 meters in Tokyo. He added the 100-meter dash for the Paris Games, which paid off earlier this week.
The 2024 Summer Games went to Team USA, which led the number of medals in athletics and boxing (the occasions of track and field and boxing) before Friday’s competition: six gold, seven silver and six bronze