Noah Lyles diagnosed with COVID before stunning 200m finals upset

USA track star Noah Lyles was upset in the 200 meter finals on Thursday and had to be helped into a wheelchair moments later. NBC provided an update on Lyles not long after the race ended, stating that he was recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

Lyles later confirmed the diagnosis during an interview with NBC.

Lyles earned the bronze medal, finishing with a time of 19.70. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana earned the gold medal with a time of 19.46, while Kenny Bednarek of the United States earned the silver at 19.62.

Lewis Johnson of NBC provided an update on Noah Lyles following the race.

“As we saw, Noah Lyles being taken off there in a wheelchair. I ran down underneath the stadium to try and find where he was. I ran into his mom, Keisha Caine, who was distraught, trying to find him as well,” Johnson said. “We found Noah Lyles in medical care being tended to. And she did confirm that Noah had been diagnosed with COVID two days ago.

“That’s right, diagnosed with COVID two days ago, but he decided he was going to run anyway. Obviously what he has there, it may have affected how he performed. He is now, again, with medical people, and again, his mom is awfully distraught. But that’s the issue. Noah has COVID.”

Lyles spoke with NBC and shared exactly what happened.

“Yea, I woke up early about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning and I was feeling really horrible again. I knew it was more than being sore from the 100,” Lyles said. “Woke up the doctors and we tested and unfortunately it came up that I was positive for COVID.

“My first thought was not to panic, thinking I’ve been in worse situations, I’ve run with worse conditions, I felt. We just took it day-by-day. Tried to hydrate as much [as possible], quarantine off, and I’d definitely say it’s taken its toll for sure, but I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and getting a bronze medal. Whereas last Olympics I was disappointed, this time I couldn’t be more proud.”

Lyles added that he never considered skipping the 200 meter finals. Lyles won the 100 meter final on Sunday, just days before testing positive for COVID. The 100 meter was literally a photo finish with the Florida native barely coming out on top. Thankfully Lyles appears to be OK, despite needing a wheelchair not long after the race.