Noah Lyles’ bright start to the 2024 Olympics in Paris has been overshadowed by a COVID-19 diagnosis, raising doubts about his continued participation in the Games. The American track star, who clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 200 meters on Thursday, took to Instagram to share his unfortunate situation and hint at a possible early exit from the Olympics.
Team USA’s premier sprinter expressed his disappointment, saying, “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics.”It wasn’t the Olympics I imagined, but it filled my heart with joy. I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you were cheering for me or not, you have to admit—you watched, didn’t you?”
Unexpected Bronze in the 200 Meters
Lyles’ statement came on the heels of his surprising third-place finish in the 200 meters, an event where he was widely expected to take gold. After the race, Lyles required medical attention and was wheeled off the track, raising alarms about his well-being.
COVID-19 Diagnosis and Symptoms
Lyles, who also battles asthma, woke up on Tuesday with symptoms like a sore throat, body aches, and chills—all signs pointing to COVID-19. A test later confirmed his infection, as reported by Yahoo! Sports. Following the positive test result, he isolated himself in a local hotel, receiving fluids and medication compliant with anti-doping regulations.
Despite these setbacks, Lyles managed to finish second in a preliminary heat on Wednesday before securing the bronze medal on Thursday. Reflecting on his performance, Lyles admitted, “It definitely affected my performance,” noting that his time of 19.70 seconds was nearly four-tenths of a second slower than his personal best.
The Decision to Compete
Lyles did not consider withdrawing from the race, as current rules do not prohibit COVID-positive athletes from competing. The choice to participate rests with individual athletes and their teams. Lyles was seen wearing a surgical mask before his races on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Noah opted to compete tonight after a comprehensive medical evaluation,” stated USA Track & Field.”We respect his decision and will continue to closely monitor his condition. As an organization, we are strictly following CDC, USOPC, and IOC guidelines on respiratory illnesses to protect our team members’ health and performance and to prevent the spread of illness.”
Future Events in Doubt
Lyles had set his sights on achieving the prestigious 100-200 double after his victory in the 100 meters on Sunday, just two days before he started experiencing symptoms. He was also expected to compete in the men’s 4×100 relay, but his Instagram post casts doubt on his participation.
“I’ll talk to the coaches,” Lyles said. “Honestly, I want to be fully open and transparent with them.”. I’ll let them make the decision.”
The track and field community is now watching closely to see how this unexpected turn of events will affect Lyles’ Olympic campaign and Team USA’s chances in the relay. As one of the sport’s most prominent figures, his potential absence would be a significant blow to the team’s overall performance.
Related – Noah Lyles Wins 100m Gold in Paris by Just Five-Thousandths of a Second
