Noah Lyles, who was recently named the “World’s Fastest Man” at the Paris Olympics, has been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to his mother speaking to NBC Olympics. This announcement coincided with Lyles’ disappointment in not clinching gold for the USA in the 100m and 200m races.
In the men’s 200m final, Lyles finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds despite his illness. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana secured the gold medal with a time of 19.46 seconds, while USA’s Kenneth Bednarek claimed silver with a time of 19.62 seconds.
Recognized as the world’s leading sprinter in the 200m, Lyles’s performance was commendable even while struggling with his health. Following the race, he required medical assistance, although it’s uncertain if this was connected to his COVID diagnosis.
NBC commentator Lewis Johnson shared that Lyles was taken off the track in a wheelchair. He recounted a moment of concern when he encountered Lyles’ mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, who was anxiously searching for him. They found Lyles receiving care in the medical area.
Johnson revealed that Lyles’ mother confirmed he had tested positive for COVID-19 two days prior to the race. Despite his diagnosis, Lyles made the decision to compete, though it likely impacted his performance. He remained in medical care while his mother expressed her worry.
In a conversation with Johnson, Lyles recounted feeling unwell on Tuesday morning, initially attributing it to soreness but later discovering he had COVID. He maintained a positive outlook, stating that he focused on hydration and took things day by day, expressing pride in his effort despite the setback.
This marks the second consecutive Olympics where COVID-19 has significantly affected Lyles’ experience. He previously won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Games, which he said was impacted by the challenges posed by the pandemic, including empty stadiums and emotional struggles.
The 200m event attracted a host of celebrity spectators, including Simone Biles, Mick Jagger, Snoop Dogg, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Leon Marchand.
Lyles was scheduled to compete in the men’s 4x100m relay final on Friday, but he expressed uncertainty about participating. “At the moment, I don’t know,” he stated. “I’m feeling more on the side of letting Team USA do their thing. They’ve proven, with great certainty, that they can handle it without me. If that’s the case, coming off today, then I’m perfectly fine saying, ‘Hey, you guys go do your thing.’”