Noah Lyles competed in the 200-meter final but was unable to win the gold medal.
It now seems that his poor health and performance could have been caused by an illness that was detected a few days before.
Concern was raised on August 8, 2024, when Noah Lyles exited the racetrack in a wheelchair. This came after he participated in and took home a bronze medal in the men’s 200-meter final.
The athlete, known as the “Fastest man in the world,” was taking part in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris at the time.
Lyles was diagnosed with COVID-19 two days prior to the championship, but he still decided to compete for the United States.
He struggled to walk on the field after finishing in third place and eventually collapsed on the racetrack. Before he was wheeled out of the arena, it looked like he was breathing heavily.
After receiving medical attention, the 27-year-old went back to the track to address the media.
Lewis Johnson of the NBC Olympics stated that he raced beneath the stadium to check on Lyles’s well-being after witnessing him leave in a wheelchair.
Rather, he met the athlete’s mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, “who was distraught trying to find him as well.”
When they got there together, they discovered Lyles getting treated. On August 6, Bishop verified her son’s coronavirus diagnosis.
Shortly after the sprinter received medical attention, he conversed with Johnson on a live broadcast. When Lyles awoke at about five in the morning on August 6, he told the journalist, he felt “horrible.”
He awakened the physicians and was tested since he sensed there was more to his illness than just stiffness from the previous 100-meter race.
Regretfully, the virus test result was positive. “My first thought was not to panic, thinking, ‘I’ve been in worse situations, I’ve run with worse conditions,’” the athlete shared.
Rather, he treated the illness day by day while isolating himself and making an effort to drink enough of water.
The athlete acknowledged that the coronavirus affected him, but he was happier than ever with his self-esteem.
In addition to his COVID-19 diagnosis, Lyles has disclosed that he suffers from asthma.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those with asthma may be “more susceptible to developing severe illness from COVID-19.”
However, on August 4, Noah Lyles participated and won gold in the men’s 100-meter dash before getting sick.
The day following the wheelchair incident, he was scheduled to compete once more in the men’s 4x100m relay.
However, he later announced that he was done competing at the Olympics in Paris the same day as the event.
The athlete posted something on Instagram after losing in the 200-meter race, which is said to be his strongest event.
He said, “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics,” before sharing that it wasn’t the Olympics he’d “dreamed of but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.” The star hoped all those who watched enjoyed the show.
“Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn’t you? 😉 See you next time,” he concluded.
The post included a picture of him kneeling on the track as if praying, and another one of him hugging the gold winner of the race, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.
After a strong showing in the 100-meter final, Lyles was the runner that was predicted to win the 200-meter race.
His US teammate Kenneth Bednarek won silver in the race on Thursday with a time of 19.62 seconds, while he finished in 19.70 seconds.
Tebogo, in 19.46 seconds, won the gold medal. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has previously had a negative impact on Lyles’ performance at the Olympics.
He participated in the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, just at the height of the pandemic.
Lyles got depressed when the Olympics were postponed by a year and the stands were empty. Though it had an impact on his performance, he was motivated to perform better in Paris.
According to the “Today” show, 40 athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 thus far during the Paris Olympics.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee disclosed that measures had been put in place to lessen the possibility of the coronavirus spreading among athletes competing for Team USA. A program to avoid infections was put in place before to the start of the Games.
The “Don’t let a cold keep you from the gold” program’s recommendation to US athletes is to always wash their hands. Additionally, when going from the US to Paris and within buildings, they are advised to wear face masks.
Individuals who get an infectious disease are given medicine and medical attention.
To prevent spreading the infection to their housemates, they are also given a private room.
In order to spare the afflicted athlete from having to board a bus with other passengers, the Committee helps with transportation. They also get their meals delivered.
Whenever they interact with people, they are expected to wear face masks. But, the athletes are still allowed to train and compete “as long as they feel up to it.”
On its website, the CDC stated, “Mass gatherings are associated with unique health risks, including an increased risk for respiratory illnesses.” It urged those planning to travel to Paris for the Games to ensure they are up to date on their “routine and recommended vaccines, including for COVID-19.”
