The “Noah Lyles COVID Race” broke on Friday when his coach said the runner competed in the men’s 200-meter final while running a 102-degree fever.
Lyles fell short of his goal of winning gold and breaking the world record at Thursday’s meet, finishing with the bronze medal and collapsing on the track immediately after the race.
Lyles was taken to hospital by medical staff, and NBC later reported that he learned from his “distraught” mother that he had tested positive for COVID-19 two days earlier. USA Track and Field confirmed the positive test to the BBC.
Lyles’ coach, Lance Brauman, said the 27-year-old track and field star won the bronze medal despite competing in a 102-degree fever. Lyles ran a personal best of 19.31 seconds, the third-fastest time ever.
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U.S. bronze medalist Noah Lyles reacts during the men’s 200m final during the 13th day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France on August 8, 2024 in Paris. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“Winning the bronze medal in 19.70 seconds with a body temperature of about 102 degrees isn’t bad,” Brauman said.
“I mean, he was sick. People can say what they want, and that’s fine, but he was sick.”
Lyles, who is known to suffer from asthma, announced on Thursday that he was withdrawing from the Olympics and withdrew from Friday’s 4×100-meter relay.
Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo criticises ‘arrogant’ and ‘loud’ Noah Lyles after 200m final
Although he fell short of his goal of a gold medal in the 200 meters, Lyles did win gold in the 100 meter final, an event that has never been his strong suit, marking the first time the U.S. has won gold in that event since 2004. Lyles said he is prioritizing the 100 meter final from 2022 onward as a way to break away from his strong suit and improve his 200 meter time.
American athlete Noah Lyles competes in the men’s 100 metres semifinal on day 9 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on August 4, 2024. (Harry Langer/Defodi Images via Getty Images)
He previously admitted that the first 100 metres of the 200m sprint was his weakest point before 2023, and he was able to improve his speed in this event through balance training in his physiotherapy, which included balancing exercises for his core and leg muscles.
These exercises can improve stability, and in Lyles’ case, align his muscles and ligaments to allow for the fastest possible movement without compensating for imbalances.
Bronze medallist Noah Lyles of the United States wears a mask after competing in the men’s 200 metres final during day 13 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Paris on August 8, 2024. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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Coming off his impressive performance at the Paris Olympics, Lyles could win his first Olympic gold medal in the 100m, and he will return home with a sense of pride, especially after the disappointment of only being able to take a bronze medal in the 200m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“Obviously, it was a big burden, but I’ve never been more proud to come this far and win a bronze medal. I was very disappointed in the last Olympics. I couldn’t be more proud this time,” he told NBC on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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