COVID-19 at Paris Olympics! Superstar Noah Lyles loses gold medal after contracting devastating virus before 200m race
US sprinter Noah Lyles wins bronze in 200m at Paris Olympics despite COVID-19 diagnosis as he loses to Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.
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Noah Lyles wins bronze in 200m at Paris Olympics despite COVID-19 diagnosis (via Open Source/X)
Noah Lyles, the world’s top 200m runner, suffered a shocking defeat in the Olympic final, losing to Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and settling for bronze. Lyles, who had been seeking to become the first American man to complete the Olympic sprint double in 40 years, struggled from the start and finished in 19.70 seconds, well shy of his personal best.
After the race, Noah Lyles received medical attention on the track and was taken away in a wheelchair, revealing that he had contracted COVID-19 before the race. This likely affected his performance and ended his hopes of completing the Olympic sprint double.
Lyles’ loss was a surprise, given his dominance in the 200m event and his confidence leading up to the race. He had won the 100m gold medal just days earlier and had been expected to add the 200m title to his haul. However, he fell behind early and was unable to make up ground, finishing behind Tebogo and American Kenny Bednarek.
Lyles’ defeat marked a stunning turnaround in fortunes for the American sprinter, who had been confident of winning the 200m gold medal just days earlier. Despite his disappointment, Lyles’ bronze medal performance was still a remarkable achievement, given his illness.
Social media reacts to Noah Lyles’ loss after contracting COVID
US sprinter Noah Lyles won a bronze medal in the 200m final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, despite being diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in the week. His performance was impressive considering his illness, as he finished third behind eventual winner Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and American teammate Kenny Bednarek.
After the race, Lyles sat down on the track and required medical attention, eventually being taken away in a wheelchair. Fans took to social media to react to the news of Lyles’ COVID diagnosis. Here are some of the reactions:
However, it was clear that he wasn’t feeling 100%, as he had a lackluster finish in his semi-final heat and was seen wearing a mask when not running. Prior to the events of tonight, he had informed his fans on X (formerly Twitter) after his 100m victory that he had asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and depression. Lyles’ participation in the upcoming 4x100m relay is now uncertain, as he continues to deal with his illness.
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Ubong Archibong
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