Team USA's Noah Lyles, a three-time world champion, fell short of his Olympic dream of breaking the 200M world record in Paris due to a positive COVID-19 test, forcing him to settle for a bronze medal.
Noah Lyles' Olympic aspirations were abruptly shattered on Thursday when he tested positive for COVID-19, dashing his hopes of achieving his "dream goal" of breaking the world record in the men's 200M.
Just days after becoming Team USA's first gold medalist in the men's 100M since 2004, Lyles was heavily favored to capture the 200M title in Paris, an event he has dominated as a three-time world champion (2019, 2022, 2023).
Noah Lyles' Olympic Hopes Dashed by COVID-19, Settles for Bronze in Men's 200M
However, Lyles' race was compromised from the outset. He had to endure a rough start and was unable to recover, crossing the line with a time of 19.70, nearly a quarter-second off the winning pace set by Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
To add insult to injury, Lyles' devastating performance came after an exhausting battle with COVID-19. He had tested positive two days prior to the race, a revelation that left him "distraught," according to his mother. USA Track and Field confirmed the positive test to the BBC.
Noah Lyles' Olympic Hopes Dashed by COVID-19, Settles for Bronze in Men's 200M
Lyles, who also suffers from asthma, was seen wearing a mask on Wednesday and before the race on Thursday. NBC Sports reported that he required medical attention after the race, a testament to the physical toll the virus had taken on his body.
Despite his setback, Lyles displayed remarkable resilience by winning two Olympic medals in Paris. In addition to the bronze in the 200M, he won a gold medal in the men's 100M, his best event.
Noah Lyles' Olympic Hopes Dashed by COVID-19, Settles for Bronze in Men's 200M
Lyles' reaction time of 0.173 in the 200M final was the slowest of all eight runners, a clear indication of the significant disadvantage he faced due to COVID-19. In the men's 100M, he had also recorded one of the slowest reaction times but managed to overcome it to win with a personal best of 9.79.
American Kenny Bednarek secured his second consecutive silver medal in the men's 200M, while Erriyon Knighton took home bronze.
Now that the 200M is behind him, Lyles is expected to focus on the men's 4x100 meter relay, depending on his health. He did not participate in the preliminaries on Thursday morning, likely to conserve energy for the 200M final.
With the COVID-19 diagnosis, Lyles' participation in the relay remains in question. He was a member of the world championship team in Budapest last year.
Lyles' story in Paris is a poignant reminder of the challenges athletes face amidst the ongoing pandemic. Despite his setbacks, he has shown immense determination and resilience, cementing his place as one of the most talented sprinters of his generation.
