(NEXSTAR) When Noah Lyles collapsed to the ground after competing in the 200-meter final in Paris on Thursday, it wasn’t just fatigue that was to blame: The American sprinter had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days before the Olympics, Lyles told reporters after the race.
If Lyles knew he had COVID-19 before the race began, why was he allowed to compete?
according to Scientific AmericanAthletes who have tested positive for the virus have still been allowed to compete, and some have done so: As of Wednesday, 19 athletes, many of them swimmers from Great Britain and Australia, had tested positive.
Unlike the previous two Olympics, Tokyo and Beijing, the Paris Games will not require athletes to undergo testing, Scientific American reported. Masks are encouraged but not required for those who are sick. (Lyles wore one while speaking with the media after the race, but not during warm-ups or competitions.) Separate rooms will also be set aside for athletes who test positive for COVID-19.
There is no comprehensive COVID policy, but some countries I wrote my own framework On how to deal with the virus at the 2024 Olympics.
USA Track and Field released a statement saying it and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee are following all Olympic and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
“After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah has elected to play in tonight’s game,” the statement said. “We respect his decision and will continue to closely monitor his condition.”
Lyles said he tested positive early Tuesday morning and was immediately put into isolation. “I still wanted to run. I was told I could,” he said.
“It definitely affected my performance,” he added.
After finishing third on Thursday, Lyles collapsed on his back, writhed in pain and remained there for nearly 30 seconds before getting up, asking for water and getting into a wheelchair.
It’s the second straight Olympics that the virus has significantly impacted Lyles’s participation. The athlete, who also won a bronze medal in Tokyo, said the empty stands and the postponement of the games for a year left her feeling depressed, which hindered her performance and dampened her enthusiasm on her journey to Paris.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won gold in the 200m final, with American teammate Kenny Bednarek taking silver.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
