SAINT-DENIS, France — Noah Lyles lost the Olympic 200 meters Thursday, falling to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, and then was tended to by medics who carted him off the track in a wheelchair with the American suffering while battling COVID-19.
After crossing the line third for the second straight Olympics, Lyles fell to his back and eventually sat up to be tended to by medical staff.
“I definitely say that it’s taking its toll, for sure, but I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and get a bronze medal,” Lyles said to NBC after the race.
“I just was feeling really horrible. I knew it was more than just being sore from the 100. … I woke up the doctors and tested and unfortunately it came up positive. My first thought was not to panic. I’ve been in worse situations. I’ve run with worse conditions. We just took it day by day.”
CBC’s Devin Heroux obtained a statement from the USA Track and Field (USTAF), where the organization confirmed Lyles tested positive for COVID on Monday and that Lyles still chose to compete in finals.
“In response (to Lyles’ positive test), the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USTAF swiftly enacted all necessary protocols to prioritize his health, the wellbeing of our team, and the safety of fellow competitors,” USATF said in the statement to Heroux.
“…After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely. As an organization, we are rigorously adhering to CDC, USOPC, and IOC guidelines for respiratory illnesses to prevent the spread of illness among team members, safeguarding their health and performance.”
Prior to the Olympics, a spokesperson for the USOPC told Time that COVID is being treated like any other respiratory illness in Paris.
“We will allow them to train and compete as long as they feel up to it,” the USOPC spokesperson said to Time.
It’s the second straight Olympics the virus has played a major role in Lyles’ trip to the Games. He also won the bronze in the 200 at the Tokyo Olympics, and he has said the empty stands and a year delay before the Games led to depression that he said hampered his performance and inspired his road to Paris.
Tebogo, 21, led wire-to-wire and won in 19.46 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in history. American Kenneth Bednarek, who also won silver in Tokyo, finished second in 19.62 and Lyles, four nights after winning a close-as-can-be 100, ran the curve in 19.70.
Lyles had not been beaten in a 200 since that night in Tokyo, and after his win in the 100, he brought the bronze medal to the press conference, slammed it on the table and said that had been his motivation for three full years.
Now, he’ll get another one.
Thursday’s final marked the second straight night Tebogo beat him to the finish line in Lyles’ favourite race.
In the semifinal, Lyles finished second and skipped his traditional meeting with reporters to head to the medical tent. His coach said he was fine.
This time, Tebogo was leading as the sprinters reached the curve. That’s the time Lyles usually puts on his trademark close, but there was no strong finish.
— With files from Sportsnet Staff