Noah Lyles Overcomes COVID to Secure Olympic Bronze in 200 Meters

American sprinter Noah Lyles revealed that he raced the 200-meter Olympic final while battling COVID-19, having tested positive just two days prior. Despite the illness, Lyles finished third, securing a bronze medal. "I woke up with chills and a sore throat and tested positive early Tuesday," Lyles said, adding that he was quarantined and given medications like Paxlovid.

Determined to compete, Lyles kept his diagnosis private to avoid alarming others and maintained his focus on the race. "I knew if I wanted to win, I had to give everything from the start," he said.

In a tightly contested race, Lyles ultimately fell short of gold, with Botswana's Letsile Tebogo winning in a record-breaking 19.46 seconds and American Kenny Bednarek taking silver. After the race, Lyles experienced lightheadedness and shortness of breath but assured he felt better after receiving medical attention.

Lyles also hinted he might skip the 4x100-meter relay, expressing confidence in his teammates' ability to win without him. His performance followed a personal best of 9.79 seconds in the 100-meter dash earlier in the Olympics, where he claimed gold in one of the closest finals in history.

Lyles also received a yellow card for "improper conduct" after a spirited pre-race introduction, though the exact reason wasn't clarified. Despite the challenges, Lyles remains a formidable competitor, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.