American sprinter Noah Lyles, who had earlier won gold in the 100m at the Paris Olympics, revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 just two days before competing in the 200m final on August 8. Despite his illness, Lyles chose to run, finishing third with a time of 19.70 seconds behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (19.46 seconds) and fellow American Kenny Bednarek (19.62 seconds).Lyles’ decision to compete while ill was controversial. He stated, ‘I wanted to run. They told me it was possible, so I just stepped aside from the rest.’ The US Athletics Federation confirmed they followed current Olympic and CDC guidelines, saying, ‘After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight.’ The toll of competing while ill was evident as Lyles collapsed on the track after crossing the finish line and had to be taken away in a wheelchair. Despite this, Lyles expressed pride in his achievement, saying, ‘I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and getting a bronze medal.’ This marks the second consecutive Olympics where Lyles’ 200m performance has been affected by COVID-19. In Tokyo, he won bronze after battling depression linked to the pandemic. The situation has raised questions about health protocols and athlete well-being at the Olympics.Hours after the race, Lyles announced on social media that his Paris Games are likely over, including withdrawing from the 4x100m relay. ‘I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics,’ he wrote. ‘It is not the Olympics I dreamed of but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.’ The incident has sparked debate about the risks of competing while ill, with former Olympic 400m record holder Michael Johnson expressing concern: ‘Very bizarre. Covid is still a dangerous disease.’ Despite the controversy, Lyles’ resilience and sportsmanship in the face of adversity have been widely praised.
Key points
- Noah Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the 200m final but still competed.
- Lyles won bronze in the 200m with a time of 19.
- Lyles announced the end of his 2024 Olympic campaign, withdrawing from the 4x100m relay.
- The incident has sparked debate about athlete health and safety protocols at the Olympics.
70 seconds, behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and USA’s Kenny Bednarek.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported times for the silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, with some sources reporting 19.
62 seconds and others not specifying his time.
