Noah Lyles Reflects on His Olympics Likely Ending After Racing with COVID: “I’ve Never Been Prouder”

Noah Lyles, a top contender in the men’s 200-meter race, faced a surprising outcome when he finished third, despite being a strong favorite. Lyles had recently set a personal best and had won multiple world championships in the event. His result was especially unexpected given his impressive track record and current form.

After the race, it was revealed that Lyles had been diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in the week. This diagnosis was a major factor in his performance. Despite the illness, Lyles still managed to win a bronze medal, which he considers a significant achievement under the circumstances.

In an interview, Lyles shared that he woke up feeling unwell on the day of the race, initially attributing his discomfort to the previous day’s 100-meter race. Despite winning gold in that event, he realized his symptoms were more severe. Lyles expressed that, even though he was not able to achieve his dream of setting a world record, he was immensely proud of his performance and the bronze medal he earned.

Lyles decided not to withdraw from the 200-meter final, even though he was struggling. He later announced on social media that he would likely not compete in the remaining events of the Olympics, including the 4×100-meter relay. He expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform well without him and conveyed his gratitude to his supporters.

His decision to step back from the remaining events was made with a positive attitude. Lyles acknowledged that while this wasn’t the Olympics he had envisioned, he was still content with his achievements and hopeful for future competitions.