Noah Lyles Diagnosed With COVID-19 Two Days Before Paris Olympic 200m Final

Noah Lyles has COVID-19, casting uncertainty on the U.S. men's 4x100m relay lineup ahead of the Olympic final on August 9 at the 2024 Paris Games.

Aug 9, 2024 by Jennifer Zahn

Noah Lyles Diagnosed With COVID-19 Two Days Before Paris Olympic 200m Final

Noah Lyles has COVID-19, casting uncertainty on the U.S. men's 4x100m relay lineup ahead of the Olympic final on August 9 at the 2024 Paris Games.

Lyles received the diagnosis two days before competing in the Olympic men's 200m final, as reported by the NBC broadcast team in Paris. Lyles took bronze in 19.70 (+0.4), and then went to the side of the track to sit down and gestured for water. He was later taken off the track in a wheelchair by a medical team.

NBC's Lewis Johnson said that Noah Lyles’ mother confirmed to him that Lyles was indeed given a COVID diagnosis.

What Did Noah Lyles Say About His COVID-19 Diagnosis?

"I woke up early, about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and I was feeling really horrible and I knew it was more than just being sore from the 100, you know. Woke up, went to the doctors and we tested and unfortunately, it came up that I was positive for COVID," Lyles told Johnson.
"My first thought was not to panic. I was thinking... I've been in worse situations... I've run with, you know, worse conditions, I felt, and we just took it day by day trying to hydrate as much as possible and quarantined off and I can definitely say that it's taken its toll for sure, but I've never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and get a bronze medal... in my last Olympics, I was very disappointed, and this time, I couldn't be more proud."

Lyles told Johnson that he never considered not running the 200m final.

Is Noah Lyles Running The 4x100m Relay?

When asked if his diagnosis affects his potential availability for the 4x100m relay, Lyles said he wasn't sure, but was currently leaning toward not competing.

"Yeah, at the moment, I don't know, I'm feeling more on the side of, you know, letting Team USA do their thing. They've proven with great certainty that they can handle it without me," Lyles said. "And if that's the case coming off today, then I'm perfectly fine saying, 'Hey, you guys go do your thing. You guys have more than enough speed to be able to handle it and get the gold medal.'"

Lyles won 100m gold in the men's 100m with a time of 9.784 two days before receiving his diagnosis. He was shown on the broadcast wearing a mask at Stade de France in the days leading up to the men's 200m final.

In the 200m semifinal on August 7, Lyles finished runner-up to Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, then skipped the mixed zone and went to the medical area.

The next day, Tebogo went on to win in the final in 19.46. Lyles' countryman, Kenny Bednarek, claimed silver in 19.62. Lyles mostly maintained pace with both through the first half of the race, then faded off the turn down the homestretch.

BREAKING NEWS: As first reported on the NBC broadcast, 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles was diagnosed with COVID two days prior to the men’s 200m final.

Lyles was taken off the track in a wheelchair by a medical team after the men’s 200m final where he took bronze in 19.70… pic.twitter.com/cTEEEdukag
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 8, 2024