Paris 2024 Olympics: suffering from Covid, American sprinter Noah Lyles believes that his “Olympic Games are over”

Noah Lyles competed in the 200m final with Covid. MAXPPP – Paul Hanna

“I think my 2024 Olympics are over,” American sprinter Noah Lyles wrote late Thursday night on his social media after revealing that he was suffering from Covid shortly after his bronze medal in the 200m, four days after his Olympic title in the 100m.

“It's not the Olympics I dreamed of, but it filled my heart with joy”, Lyles continued.

The triple 2023 world champion, in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, was even aiming for a quadruple at the Paris Games, by adding the 4x400m.

Lined up in the 4x100m

With his two individual races completed, Lyles was a priori expected in the final of the 4x100m on Friday evening, before a more hypothetical participation in the 4x400m Saturday. "I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you supported me or were against me, recognize that you watched, right ?", he wrote again, without losing his sense of showmanship.

“If he can't run, we're going to have to rebuild the team to be the best” possible, Kenny Bednarek, a 200m silver medalist and member of the U.S. relay team, said earlier in a press conference.

“Two of the guys who ran (in the heats on Thursday) are my training partners and if one or the other is there (in the final), with the relationship we have, I think we can still get the job done”, he added.

Bronze medalist in the 200 meters with Covid

Big favorite in the 200m, a distance in which he is the reigning triple world champion, Lyles only won the bronze medal on Thursday evening, visibly physically diminished and leaving the track in a wheelchair.

He explained in the minutes that followed that he had tested positive for Covid on Tuesday morning, the day before the semi-finals of the half-lap track. “I was quickly placed in quarantine near the Olympic Village and I tried to take authorized medication, he explained to the press. I wanted to run. I was told it was possible, so I just stood back from the others and took lap after lap.”

“Of the last three days, this was by far the best day. I can't say I'm 100%, but more like 90 or 95%,”, he estimated.