Noah Lyles simply could not summon his feared closing speed in the 200 meters at the Paris Olympics on Thursday ― and one reason might have been that he had COVID-19, he and his mother told NBC after the race. USA Today also reported that Noah, who has asthma, had tested positive through another source.
Letsile Tebogo of Botswana won gold in 19.46 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek (19.62) won silver, and Lyles (19.70) settled for bronze for the second straight Olympics.
Lyles had worn a mask the last few days off the track and could be seen right before the race pacing in front of volunteers and asking himself, “Where’s the energy?”
He was wheeled into the medical area after the race.
Lyles told NBC after the race that he woke early at 5 a.m. on Tuesday “feeling really horrible” and got tested. “Unfortunately it came up positive. My first thought was not to panic,” he said.
Lyles, who hadn’t lost a 200 final since Tokyo, added, “It’s taken its toll for sure but I’ve never been prouder of myself” to get the bronze.
His relay status is up in the air, he said.
Lyles had faced a daunting history as it was.
Just nine men, including Jamaica’s Usain Bolt on three occasions — 2008, 2012 and 2016 — have completed the 100-200 double at the Olympics.
The last American to accomplish the feat was Carl Lewis in 1984.
The 200 is Lyles’ stronger race and one that he had not lost in any final since taking bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, the reigning world champion showed vulnerability in both events in the City of Light.
He normally likes to win his heats but finished a relaxed second to Tebogo in a 200 semifinal.
He’s been bedeviled by poor starts at the Games and had to mount a frantic comeback to win the 100 by just five-thousandths of a second.
The start is less critical in the longer sprint but is still important, even for a closer like Lyles.
Lyles also contended with the self-imposed pressure of wanting to be the celebrity face of the sport. He backed up his bravado in the 100 while ratcheting up expectations of a double.
As it turns out, he was not up to the task.