After a thrilling, historic victory in the men’s 100 meters earlier this week, Noah Lyles reportedly was diagnosed with COVID and finished third in the 200-meter final.
On Thursday night at the 2024 Summer Games, the American sprinter came up short in the 200, thereby ending his hopes for an Olympic sprint triple.
Lyles finished a surprise third in the race amid great hype entering the contest.
Letsile Tebogo of Botswana took gold in 19.46 seconds, with American Kenny Bednarek taking silver in 19.62 seconds. Lyles was third across the line in 19.70 seconds.
After the race Lyles, who has battled asthma, sat on the track winded and received medical treatment.
Medical personnel wheeled Noah Lyles down a hallway deep beneath the stands at Stade de France. As he was taken by wheelchair for examination, someone asked if he wanted to call his mother. He shook his head.
“I just needed some time,” he said. “So they wheeled me off the track. “
A minute later, his mother rushed down the hallway after him.
NBC news reported his mother confirmed Lyles was diagnosed with COVID two days earlier but still was committed to running.
The COVID safety restrictions that dramatically altered the Tokyo Olympics were abandoned for the Paris Olympics and mask use was limited.
The last man to accomplish the Olympic triple Lyles sought was Usain Bolt, who did it twice, at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Lyles has another shot at gold in the 4×100 relay Friday, but it’s unclear he will be healthy enough to participate.