American sprinter Noah Lyles secured a bronze medal in the 200-meter race and revealed that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

On August 8, 2024, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Letsile Tebogo from Botswana, Kenneth Bednarek from the United States, and Noah Lyles, also from the United States, finished first, second, and third respectively in the men’s 200m final. This event marked a historic moment as Tebogo secured Botswana’s first-ever gold medal with a time of 19.46 seconds. Bednarek followed with a silver at 19.62 seconds, and Lyles earned bronze with a time of 19.70 seconds.

Just two days prior, Lyles had tested positive for COVID-19. Despite this, he chose to compete, isolating himself in a hotel away from the Olympic Village and wearing a mask during warmups. Lyles explained that he did not want to reveal his illness to avoid giving his competitors an advantage.

During the final, Lyles, known for his energetic demeanor, struggled to keep up from the start. This was a stark contrast to his previous performances, including a streak of 26 consecutive wins dating back to 2021. After crossing the finish line, Lyles collapsed and was later taken away in a wheelchair. This was a significant departure from his earlier triumph in the 100 meters, where he had won his first Olympic gold by a narrow margin and confidently predicted a win in the 200 meters as well.

Lyles acknowledged that COVID-19 had impacted his performance but expressed pride in securing a bronze medal under the circumstances. USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee followed health guidelines to ensure his and others’ safety, allowing him to compete after a thorough medical evaluation.

Lyles had aimed to become the first man to win both the 100m and 200m sprints at an Olympics since Usain Bolt in 2016 and the first American to do so since Carl Lewis 40 years ago. His bronze medal also ended his goal of winning four gold medals at a single Olympics, a feat last achieved in 1984. He left the decision of participating in the U.S. 4×100-meter relay team to USA Track & Field, as they had qualified for the final with the fastest preliminary time.