Noah Lyles, who was recently honored as the “World’s Fastest Man” at the Paris Olympics, has been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to his mother. This news comes as Lyles finished third in the men’s 200m race, where he clocked a time of 19.70 seconds, despite battling the illness.
In the 200m final, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo earned the gold with a time of 19.46 seconds, while American Kenneth Bednarek secured the silver, finishing in 19.62 seconds. Lyles, who holds the top ranking in the world for the 200m, required medical assistance after the race, although details regarding his condition or its connection to his COVID diagnosis remain unclear.
NBC Olympics commentator Lewis Johnson provided an account of the scene, describing Lyles being taken away in a wheelchair and his mother’s concern as they searched for him. Johnson later reported that Lyles had indeed tested positive for COVID-19 just two days prior but chose to compete regardless.
Lyles recounted his experience, stating he felt unwell upon waking up on Tuesday and knew something was wrong. After receiving a positive COVID test, he focused on staying calm and managing his condition while preparing for the race. He expressed pride in his performance despite the challenges posed by the virus.
This marks the second consecutive Olympics where COVID-19 has impacted Lyles’ experience. He previously earned a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, where he faced difficulties due to the pandemic’s effects, including empty stadiums generated from delays.
The 200m events drew a star-studded audience, featuring celebrities like Simone Biles, Mick Jagger, Snoop Dogg, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Leon Marchand.
Looking ahead, Lyles was slated to participate in the men’s 4x100m relay final on Friday, but he expressed uncertainty about his participation and suggested that Team USA could succeed without him.