Noah Lyles was looking to keep his gold medal in the 100 meters with an equivalent medal in the 200 meters. On Thursday, the favourite 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 took 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 more than just being upset about the 100,” he said. “I woke up the doctors and we got tested, and unfortunately it turned out that I was 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 definitely took its toll, but I’ve never been prouder of myself that I was able to come here and get a bronze medal. “
He said he quarantined as long as possible, but never skipped the race.
US Track
He continued, “Our number one commitment is to protect Team USA athletes. “while respecting their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah has chosen to compete tonight. We respect your resolution and will continue to monitor your condition closely. “
Lyles is scheduled for the 4×100 meter relay race, however, he told NBC after the 200 meters that he was unsure if he would compete in the event.
“I feel more in favor of letting the American team do their job. They have shown with wonderful certainty that they can handle this without me,” he said. “If that’s the case today, I can totally say, ‘Hey, you’re doing your thing. You’ve got more than enough speed to handle it and get the gold medal. ‘”
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. “
“This is not the Olympics I dreamed of, but they left me with so much joy in my heart,” Lyles wrote. “I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you’re for or against me, you have to admit that it’s been like that. “Looking, right? See you next time. “
On Sunday, Lyles narrowly edged Kishane Thompson to win the gold medal in the 100 meters, beating the Jamaican by just five thousandths of a second. USA’s Fred Kerley topped off the medals in a photo-finish, with the four most sensible separated by just 0. 04 seconds and the most sensible seven to just 0. 09 – a literal wink.
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. The U. S. Athletics and Boxing Championships led the way in the number of medals in track and field (the track and box occasions) before Friday’s competition: six gold, seven silver and six bronze.