American sprinter Noah Lyles won the bronze medal in the 200-meter final at the Paris Olympics, despite revealing two days prior that he tested positive for Covid-19. Lyles finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds, trailing gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who set a new record with 19.46 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek secured the silver with a time of 19.62 seconds.
Covid-19 Diagnosis and Performance Impact
After testing positive for Covid-19, Lyles isolated himself in a hotel separate from the Olympic Village and wore a mask during warmups for the semifinal. Despite his illness, he chose to compete in the final and did not disclose his diagnosis beforehand, aiming to avoid giving competitors an advantage.
Lyles, known for his energetic presence and previous dominance in sprinting, appeared less vigorous in the 200-meter final. He struggled from the start and collapsed at the finish line, requesting water and needing assistance to leave the track.
Reflections on the Olympics
Lyles expressed pride in earning a bronze medal under the circumstances, stating, “Testing positive for COVID definitely affected my performance. But I’m more proud of myself than anything coming out and getting the bronze medal with COVID in three days.”
Before the final, Lyles had achieved his first Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters, winning by a narrow margin. He had also guaranteed a victory in the 200 meters but fell short of his goal due to his health challenges.
Response from USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee emphasized their adherence to health guidelines and supported Lyles’s decision to compete. They stated, “Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.”