Why was Noah Lyles permitted to run with Covid at the Olympics, and will he race again?

Before disclosing that he had participated with Covid, Noah Lyles won the bronze in the men’s 200-meter final at the Olympics.

Despite testing positive on Tuesday, the American, who took first place in the men’s 100-meter final on Sunday night, chose to compete on Thursday night.

In an effort to achieve the sprint double by winning the 100- and 200-meter gold medals, Lyles ended in third, trailed by American teammate Kenny Bednarek and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.

Lyles claimed that Covid had “affected” his performance, but he was “proud” of the bronze he managed to get despite Covid.

What took place?

When Lyles emerged from the tunnel ahead of the 200-meter final, looking to follow in the footsteps of Usain Bolt by winning both the 100- and 200-meter events at the same Olympics, there was no indication that the 27-year-old was battling with illness.

On Sunday night, Lyles overcame a little disadvantage to win the gold by 0.005 seconds in the thrilling 100-meter final. It appeared that he may pull off the same feat when he fell behind Letsile Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek entering the last bend at the Stade de France.

But Tebogo surged away on the last straightaway, and Lyles was unable to bridge the distance. With a winning time of 19.46 seconds, the 21-year-old ranked fifth all-time, but Lyles missed his personal best by over half a second.

Lyles crossed the line, gave Tebogo a congrats, gave the new champion an embrace, and then collapsed onto his back. Lyles gasped for air and stumbled to his feet. When he did, medical professionals attended to him, and he exited the track using a wheelchair.

Not even five minutes after the race concluded, NBC announced that Lyles had tested positive for Covid prior to the competition. The USA track and field federation announced in a statement a short while later that Lyles had tested positive on Tuesday.

Why was Lyles permitted to participate?

Lyles could not have competed in the Tokyo Olympics under the same rules if he had tested positive for Covid. Instead, the athlete would have been placed in isolation.

However, after three years, things have changed. At the Olympics, as in other activities, at work, and in schools, there will be no such regulations in Paris 2024, and COVID-19 will be handled similarly to other respiratory diseases.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, along with the US track and field association, claimed in a statement that they had fully complied with the rules established during the Olympics.

The statement stated, “We quickly implemented all necessary procedures to prioritize his health, our team’s well-being, and the safety of other competitors.”

“Our top priority is protecting Team USA athletes’ rights to compete while also ensuring their safety. Following a comprehensive medical assessment, Noah decided to compete. We honor his choice and will keep a careful eye on his health.

Lyles claims that after awakening in the middle of the night with “chills, aching, and sore throat,” he tested positive early on Tuesday morning. “The medical staff, my coach, and my mum” were the only people who knew he was in quarantine at a hotel close to the Olympic village.

He said he held the results of his positive Covid test “close to the chest” in order to avoid giving the opposition a “edge” over him before the 200-meter final.

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What else was said by Lyles?

“It undoubtedly had an impact on my performance. I’ve had to take numerous pauses. Throughout the night, I kept coughing.

“I am quite proud of myself for coming out here and winning a bronze medal with Covid.

“I’ve experienced better days, but I’m back on the streets. I felt really dizzy after that race.

Breathlessness and chest agony were experienced, but eventually I was able to gather my thoughts and breathe again. Now, I’m much better.

On Wednesday, one day after returning a positive test result, Lyles also participated in the 200-meter semi-finals. It was his first 200-meter loss in 26 races as he was defeated by Tebogo in the semifinals.

Did he expose his teammates to the possibility of contracting COVID-19?

After the race, Lyles was spotted hugging gold medallist Letsile Tebogo. The newly crowned 200-meter champion, however, stated that since athletics is “not a contact sport,” he had no problem with Lyles participating against Covid in the final.

After defeating Lyles in the semifinals, Tebogo claimed to have sensed anything was wrong with the American when he spotted Lyles warming up for the 200-meter final while wearing a face mask. He claimed to be unaware that Lyles had Covid.

Lyles claimed that upon his return to the track, he “stayed away from everybody,” but the pictures released right after the race gave a different impression.

Will Lyles compete in another Olympic race?

The next step in Lyles’ quest to earn four gold medals at the Olympics would have been to compete in Friday night’s 4x100m relay. Next on the schedule for Saturday night is the 4x400m relay.

However, Lyles stated on Instagram that the 200 meters “will be the end of my 2024 Olympics.” The American athlete described himself as being in the “90 to 95 percent” range for the 200 meters, and he stated that the coaches of the 4×100 meters will decide whether or not he competes.

I want to start by giving thanks to God for guiding me through the entire Olympic Games! Letstile Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek, along with everyone else, deserve my congratulations for a wonderful Olympic 200-meter final. I’d want to thank everyone for their encouraging remarks.

“I think this will be the last Olympics I compete in in 2024. Although it’s not the Olympics I had hoped for, it has brought me immense happiness. I hope the show was enjoyable to all. You have to acknowledge that you watched, regardless of whether you were cheering for me or against me. I’ll see you later.