Keisha Cain Bishop, the mother of Noah Lyles, is furious that Olympic security guards refused to help her son after he collapsed after the men’s 200m final.
Lyles, who raced despite testing positive for COVID-19, was the subject of a horrifying scene when he collapsed to the ground after finishing third at the Stade de France.
Lyles’ coach, Lance Brauman, told The Associated Press that his player had a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit when he tried to complete the doubles match and was later taken away by paramedics.
“One of the most terrifying moments of my life!” Kane Bishop wrote on Instagram. “I watched as my son clutched his chest and gasped for breath while I pleaded with stadium security to call a medic. They made no attempt to help and were completely ignored! No parent should ever have to feel this helpless!”
“But I want to thank the @nbcolympics team for helping me through this moment. Thank you for seeing me and my son as people and not just a story. I am more grateful than words can express for your empathy, professionalism and kindness.”
“I also want to thank the @usatf staff for giving me a shoulder to cry on. To the security team, I pray that when your loved ones need help they are treated better than you treated us. I also thank God he is getting better.”
Lyles, who won gold in the 100 meters, withdrew from the 4×100 relay following his diagnosis.
He announced Saturday that he had recovered from COVID-19 and had tested negative.
The American is expected to compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, which will mark his third Olympic Games.
