A Paris Olympics visitor claimed Noah Lyles’ mother did not tell the whole truth about security’s response to her son’s apparent COVID-induced meltdown after the 200-meter final.
The fan whose X username is @mizzADDYtudeclaimed she was sitting next to Keisha Caine Bishop when she begged security to help the American track and field star, who reportedly ran the race with a fever of 102 degrees.
“I sat there and watched the whole thing. Security didn’t refuse to call medics. They refused to let her on the field. They were screaming in their faces and trying to jump the fence. Security did their job,” the fan tweeted.
“Medical came and provided help. She was going to be with him in a different way. She was doing her job as a mother. Security was doing their job by not letting anyone through the gate who wasn’t a photographer,” she continued.
She was responding to an angry Instagram post from Bishop, in which she claimed that stadium security wouldn’t call a doctor despite Lyles falling to the ground.
An Olympic competitor disputes Noah Lyles’ mother’s claim that security refused to help her son
The fan claimed she sat next to Keisha Caine Bishop after the 200m final
“This was one of the scariest moments of my life! Watching my son clutch his chest and gasp for air while stadium security refused to call a doctor as I begged them to help him,” she wrote earlier this week.
“They also refused to do anything to help. They completely ignored me! No parent should ever have to experience this feeling of helplessness!” she continued.
“I do want to thank the @nbcolympics team for their support during this time. Thank you for seeing me and my son as people and not just a story. Words cannot express my gratitude for your empathy, professionalism and kindness.
“And also thank you @usatf staff who let me cry on their shoulders. To the security team, I pray that if your loved one ever needs help, they are treated better than you treated us. I also thank God that he is doing better.”
Lyles, who was the favorite to win after taking gold in the 100 meters, finished third in the event.
Lyles’ mother spoke out after her son, who had contracted Covid, collapsed after the race
Bishop could be seen angrily having a heated exchange with security on the day itself
Lyles was clearly having trouble breathing after finishing third in the event last week
Shortly after winning a bronze medal behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and Team USA star Kenny Bednarek, Lyles revealed he had been battling Covid.
During the live broadcast, Lewis Johnson confirmed the news to NBC viewers.
“We saw Noah being taken out of there in a wheelchair. I ran into his mother who was very upset,” he said.
“She confirmed two days ago that Noah had been diagnosed with Covid, but he decided to flee anyway,” he continued.
“I ran under the stadium to see where he was. We found Noah Lyles in the medical bay, being treated.”
While it’s unclear how quickly Lyles received medical attention, the 27-year-old was eventually pushed out of the stadium in a wheelchair.