With the reverberations of “USA” leaving the spotlight and hearts burdened by disappointment, Noah Lyles confronted a devastating blow as his Olympic dreams vanished.
Expecting to add his name to the ranks of legends like Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis, Lyles missed the mark in his journey to sweep the sprints at the Paris Games.
Distant Third
Lyles, who was competing in the 200-meter final at the Stade de France from the fifth lane, found himself trailing after the homestretch turn.
With a time of 19.70 seconds, he came in at a distant third, behind gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana (19.46 seconds) and another American Kenny Bednarek (19.62 seconds).
Receiving Medical Attention
The loss not only halted Lyles’ desire to be the first man to win both sprints at an Olympics since Bolt in 2016 but also the first American to do as such in 40 years.
According to a Paris 2024 official, he was quickly wheeled off the track and received immediate medical attention after finishing in a disappointing third place.
Coronavirus Status
Only days before his race, Lyles tested positive for Coronavirus. After getting a bronze medal in the 200m final, the star runner was quickly escorted from the track in a wheelchair.
Roughly 15 minutes after this, Lyles, who had recently won the 100-meter sprint on August 4, returned wearing a black KN95 mask.
Diagnosis Confirmed
Lyles affirmed to NBC that he had been diagnosed with Coronavirus at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, not long before the Thursday final.
He stated: “I was feeling really horrible and knew it was more than just soreness from the 100. I woke up the doctors, tested, and unfortunately, it came up positive.”
Determined to Participate
Lyles maintained his composure despite the setback, noting that he had never considered skipping the 200-meter final.
He added, “It’s taken its toll for sure, but I’ve never been prouder of myself for coming out here and getting the bronze medal”.
Hugging Competitor
However, Lyles’ decision to compete while infected did not go unnoticed. After the race, he was seen embracing Tebogo, which lighted a firestorm of criticism on X.
One fan responded firmly, expressing, “You hugged Tebogo after the race, knowing you have COVID??? They should arrest YOU!!!”
Concern for Fellow Athletes
A fan on X admonished Lyles, referring to him as “irresponsible and self-serving, putting others at risk,” communicating concern for the health of other competitors.
Lyles had been seen wearing a surgical mask in the pre-race region and afterwards, most likely in an attempt to prevent the spread of sickness.
Difficulty Breathing
However, after the race, he took off the mask and was seen struggling to breathe. He was wheeled off the track and didn’t tell anyone about his use of the mask until after the fact.
Remarkably, he had stayed quiet about this detail before the race, bringing up issues about his consideration for others’ wellbeing.
Asthma Issues
Another fan commented, “Noah Lyles is about to kill himself,” in relation to concerns over the health risks he was taking. Lyles’ accomplishment in running accompanies significant difficulties, given his experience with severe asthma and recent Coronavirus contamination.
Lyles, who has been candid about his struggles with asthma since he was a child, described in 2020 how he had frequent hospitalizations and a weakened immune system from the ages of 3 to 7.
Rules at Paris
One remark scrutinized those saluting Noah Lyles for competing even though he tested positive for Coronavirus, referring to them as “Side eyeing everyone who is congratulating Noah Lyles for competing while knowing he has Covid. Y’all are disgusting and don’t take Public Health seriously.”
Athletes who test positive are not under any particular rules in the event that they test positive for Coronavirus at the 2024 Paris Olympics. International federations and individual National Olympic Committees manage the rules governing athlete participation, according to Paris organizers, who directed inquiries for additional information to those organizations.
Infection Predominance
Lyles admitted that, in order to prevent giving competitors an advantage, he did not tell his teammates about his positive test before the 200-meter final. Following the final, he stated, “You never want to tell your competitors you’re sick; why would you give them an edge over you?”
As per a UN report, at least 40 competitors at the Paris Games have tested positive for Coronavirus, with a 20% positivity rate in Europe.
Because of severe testing policies at the Games, the full degree of the infection’s predominance among competitors and team staff is unknown.
