American track star Noah Lyles was taken away in a wheelchair after losing the 200m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris . Botswana's Letsile Tebogo won the event, winning the country's first Olympic gold, with Lyles having to settle for third.
Tebogo became the first African man to win gold in the 200m final. He finished with a time of 19.46, a record, with American Kenny Bednarek taking silver with a time of 19.62, and Lyles winning bronze with a time of 19.70 .
Though Lyles competed and appeared to be in distress after his race , Michael Johnson believed the 27-year-old had been given the go-ahead from medical personnel to proceed with Thursday's event. Speaking after the race's conclusion, Johnson elaborated: "Medics will have given him the OK to race. He was probably not in danger of anything by racing, other than not being at 100 percent"
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After finishing the race, Lyles crumpled and remained on the floor at the Stade de France for several moments. He attempted to walk off on his own power but he fell to one knee, prompting a wheelchair to be brought out to help assist the Olympian in leaving the area.
However, it is being reported by BBC that U.S. Track and Field had informed the broadcaster that Lyles had contracted COVID-19 two days prior and had raced despite the illness . It also must be noted that Lyles has a history of asthma and the combination of the two could have affected his performance in the 200m final.
Once news broke that Lyles had competed with COVID-like symptoms, Johnson, the former Olympic champion, questioned the decision to allow Lyles to compete and wondered how other athletes would be affected by the decision to allow the American to be around his fellow competitors while sick.
"It is difficult to know what the situation is with athletes with Covid now," Johnson said on BBC. "What were the rules for the organizers? Are you supposed to report any of those sorts of things?
"They said he had a medical yesterday. There was a rumor going 'round that he was sick but they didn't say COVID. I would imagine they knew that yesterday. Is he going to be out there practicing tomorrow before the final? It seems a no."
NBC commentator Lewis Johnson provided an update and clarification regarding Lyles' condition and why he was allowed to enter the race. "I ran into his mom Keisha Caine Bishop, who was distraught and trying to find him as well," Johnson began.
"She did confirm that Noah had been diagnosed with COVID two days ago. That's right, diagnosed with COVID two days ago but he decided he was going to run anyway.
"And obviously what he has there, may have affected how he performed. He is now with medical people and his mom is awfully distraught. But that is the issue: Noah has COVID."
With Lyles suffering from Covid, his participation in Friday's 4x100m relay is now in question. Before Thursday's race, Lyle was seen wearing a mask, potentially as a way to keep others from contracting the virus as well.
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