Noah Lyles Diagnosed With COVID: Leaves Olympic Track In A Wheelchair After 200m Final

Noah Lyles Wins 100-Meter Gold but Faces Criticism After COVID-Positive 200-Meter Final at Paris 2024 Olympics

American sprinter Noah Lyles confidently predicted ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games that he would secure gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Lyles achieved the first part of his goal by winning the 100-meter final with a time of 9.784 seconds, edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just 0.005 seconds in a dramatic photo finish. The victory heightened anticipation for the upcoming 200-meter race.

On August 8, 2024, Lyles lined up for the 200-meter final, aiming for his second gold. However, he finished third behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who took gold, and fellow American Kenneth Bednarek, who claimed silver.

After the race, Lyles—who had been wearing a mask and suffers from asthma—appeared to struggle with his breathing. He collapsed on the track and was taken away in a wheelchair. It was soon revealed by USA Track and Field that Lyles had tested positive for COVID-19 two days earlier, before competing in both the early heats and the final of the 200 meters.

The revelation sparked controversy and raised questions about why Lyles was permitted to compete despite his positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Some fans speculated that if Lyles had won the 200-meter race, the public might never have known about his condition, while others expressed concern for the health of his fellow competitors, hoping that he hadn’t transmitted the virus to anyone else. Both Lyles and USA Track and Field faced criticism online for their decision. Additionally, ESPN’s Coley Harvey reported that Lyles was issued a yellow card for a violation of Technical Rule 7.1, which pertains to “improper conduct,” though no details were provided about the specifics of the violation.