S Poddar
Noah Lyles announced he had tested positive for Covid-19 Tuesday morning, hours after taking a bronze medal in the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics. The reigning world champion finished third in 19.70 seconds and, unable to walk, was wheeled away from the track in a wheelchair. But far from pulling out before the race, Lyles had already made a call to run despite the diagnosis. The US sprinter attended the media conference in a mask and flanked by medical staff from the US team, where he insisted the decision to run would be all his.
Lyles, the freshly baked Olympic gold medalist in the 100m, was unable to challenge the winner, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana—who took gold in 19.46 seconds—and another American, Kenneth Bednarek, who claimed the silver medal with 19.62 seconds. Appearing in a wheelchair, many questions immediately arose over Lyles’ welfare, which he openly chose to address.
“I tested positive for Covid at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday,” Lyles said. “Woke up with chills, aches, sore throat—symptoms I know I have when I have had Covid. So after testing positive, I quarantined in a hotel near the Olympic Village, and then the medical team gave me every medication they legally could to keep me in the best shape possible.”
Though light-headed with chest pain at the finish, Lyles still put so much emphasis on his need to compete. “I never thought about pulling out,” he said. “If I didn’t make it to the final, that would’ve been my sign to stop, but I was determined to race.”
USA Track & Field supported the athlete, saying, “Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our athletes, while at the same time taking into consideration their right to compete. Following a thorough medical evaluation, Noah decided to compete this evening. We support his decision and shall continue to closely monitor his health and well-being.”
The Paris Olympics didn’t insist on any mandatory Covid-related participation rules, so Lyles could take to the track. Covid has continued to be an issue at the Games, hitting a whole range of athletes from Australian water polo players to British swimmer Adam Peaty.
Asked if at any point did he contemplate withdrawing from the 200m, Lyles responded categorically, “No, I was going to run no matter what.” His determination was not without concerns; Lyles’ girlfriend, Jamaican athlete Junelle Bromfield, claimed that he spent the whole night coughing. “I thought I slept well, but she said she had to keep moving me to stop the coughing,” said Lyles. “Winning a bronze medal after three days of battling Covid—this has been a wild Olympics.”
He admitted that he had shared his diagnosis with only a few people prior to the competition, and they were the medical staff, his coach, and his family. “We just kept it under wraps to avoid making a big panic and to ensure that everybody else can just focus on competing,” he said. “You never want your competitors to know you’re sick. It’s not something you want to give away.”.
Even after hugging Lyles following the final, Bednarek, who took silver, wasn’t concerned about potential health risks. “I don’t care,” he said. “I’m healthy and take care of myself, so it doesn’t bother me. I don’t get sick easily.”.
Lyles has admitted that he will be honest with teammates ahead of the 4x100m men’s relay and will tell them exactly how he feels. “I’ll talk to the 4×100 crew, and let them make the decision,” he said. “I know they can handle whatever.”.
Later, Lyles took to his Instagram and shared an emotional message that made people believe that his Olympics were done. “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. It wasn’t the Olympics I had in my head, but it’s given me so much joy.”.
