Noah Lyles ran the men’s 200m final with Covid and had to be pulled out of the Stade de France after surprisingly finishing third in the race.
NBC said it spoke to Lyles’ mother, who confirmed he had the virus before the athlete himself confirmed the news. He said he had no regrets about competing, despite the inevitable risk of spreading the virus to other athletes, whom he hugged and shook hands with after the race.
Speaking to NBC, he wore a mask and said, “I woke up early, Tuesday morning at 5 a.m., and I felt absolutely horrible. I knew it was more than just muscle aches out of 100. My first thought was not to panic, I’ve been in worse situations, I’ve been in worse circumstances.
“I just took it day by day, tried to hydrate as much as I could. It definitely took its toll, but I’ve never been so proud of myself coming here and getting a bronze medal.”
Asked if he was considering withdrawing, Lewis Johnson gave a firm answer: ‘No. No. We just said we would quarantine ourselves as much as possible and try not to pass on the virus.’
Noah Lyles ran men’s 200m final in Paris with Covid, his mother claims
The American had to be driven away in shocking scenes in the moments after the race
Lyles was clearly struggling to breathe after finishing third in the event on Thursday
Moments earlier, NBC’s Johnson revealed Lyles’ condition: “We saw Noah being taken out of there in a wheelchair. I ran into his mother, who was very upset.
‘She confirmed that Noah was diagnosed with Covid two days ago, but he decided to go for a run anyway.
“I ran under the stadium to see where he was. We found Noah Lyles in the medical bay, where he was being treated.
“Clearly what he has there could have affected how he performed. He’s with the medical staff now, but that’s the problem. Noah has Covid.”
The American star made his trademark theatrical entrance at the race, jumping into the stadium when his name was called and shouting to the crowd that he would win the race, as many considered him the favorite.
But after being passed by gold-winning Letsile Tebogo and fellow Australian Kenny Bednarek, Lyles was found on the track, panting and gasping for breath, after congratulating his fellow competitors.
Moments later, he was photographed needing a wheelchair to get off the track, arriving for the race wearing a mask.
Lyles tweeted earlier this week – after winning gold in the 100 meters – that he has asthma.
Michael Johnson questioned Lyles’ decision to go ahead and take part, telling the BBC: “It’s very bizarre, Covid is still a dangerous disease. It’s just bizarre, it’s all really weird.
“There’s going to be a lot of fuss with Noah haters – and he’s exposed himself to it – there’s going to be people saying it’s not real and he’s fake or something.
“But if we put that aside for a moment, and despite COVID, we still come here and are around other people — I know there probably isn’t a policy for this at these Games — but morally I’m not so sure.”
But the American star was seen hugging gold medalist Letsile Tebogo before turning heads
Lyles was seen wearing a mask just before his match in Paris started
Doctors rush to help Lyles after he falls to the ground and struggles to breathe
Lyles was seen shaking hands and hugging his competitors before collapsing to the ground.
Earlier this week it was reported that more than 40 athletes had tested positive for the virus.
British swimmer Adam Peaty tested positive a day after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke while feeling unwell, his team said.
Australian medal contender Lani Pallister withdrew from the women’s 1500m freestyle due to illness.
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