SAINT-DENIS, France – Noah Lyles said he tested positive for COVID two days before finishing third in the 200-meter final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday night.
Here’s what we know about Lyles’ disease timeline:
Lyles says he quickly went into quarantine after testing positive Tuesday morning. He participated in the 200 meter semi-final on Wednesday, where he finished second. Lyles’ coach later said the sprinter was “fine.”
Lyles, who always takes the opportunity to talk, did not speak to reporters after the semifinal.
The 100 meter champion said he felt better as the 200 meter final approached. He estimated it was at about 90-95 percent when the starting gun went off.
“I still wanted to race,” he said after Thursday night’s race. “They said it was possible.”
Lyles was behind 200-meter champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana as they headed into the home straight, which is usually where the American gets a trademark run that has always been the best part of his race. Before this week, he had not lost 200 meters since his third place in Tokyo three years ago.
This time, Lyles couldn’t close. Just a desperate push to the line and then a collapse on the purple track.
“To be honest, I knew if I wanted to come here and win, I was going to have to give everything I had from the start,” he said. “I didn’t have time to save energy. So that was the strategy for today.”
After crossing the line third for the second consecutive Olympics, Lyles fell onto his back and writhed on the ground trying to catch his breath. He knelt down and stayed there for almost 30 seconds before getting up, asking for water and getting into his wheelchair.
The U.S. Track and Field Federation released a statement saying it and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee adhered to all Olympic and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
“After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah has chosen to compete tonight,” the statement said. “We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.”
Three years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, a positive COVID test would have placed an athlete in immediate isolation, forcing him to a special hotel, without contact with other Olympic participants. Even in 2022, at the China Winter Games, daily testing and strict isolation measures were automatic. COVID rules have changed across much of society, including sports, school and work. USATF says it followed current policies.
France, which once had strict COVID restrictions, no longer has rules for people with the virus, only recommendations for those who test positive to self-isolate.
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that 40 athletes at the Olympics have tested positive for the virus amid a rise in cases around the world.
Lyles was expected to run the anchor leg of the 4×100 on Friday in what many thought would be a quest for a third gold medal in Paris. After the 200 meters, he said he would talk to his relay teammates and make a decision.
“I want to be very honest and transparent and I’m going to let them make the decision,” Lyles said, describing himself as being around 90 or 95 percent.
But on Friday morning in Paris, Lyles posted on Instagram: “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics,” indicating that he would not be on the relay team.
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