SAINT-DENIS, France—The first sign of trouble Thursday night came when Noah Lyles started rounding the curve in the Olympic final of the 200 meters—the sprint that has always been his best race.
Normally at the curve, Lyles starts making up ground, then pulling away from what have been, for the last three years, game but overmatched contenders.
This time, his momentum stalled. Instead of Lyles reeling in the runner two lanes to his right, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Tebogo pulled farther way. The American favorite, who had gone three years without losing in the 200, labored into the finish and collapsed onto the track after ending up in third.
Later, wearing a mask, Lyles told reporters he had COVID-19 but decided to compete anyway.
“I still wanted to run,” Lyles said. “They said it was possible.”
With the blessing of officials at USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who said they followed protocol, Lyles did run.
He finished in 19.70. That was .39 off his personal-best, and .24 behind the 21-year-old Tebogo. Lyles’s U.S. teammate Kenny Bednarek finished second, marking the second straight Olympics in which he and Lyles finished 2–3.
“When I saw Kenny fade, I knew Noah was far, far, far away behind us,” Tebogo said. “So that means I’m the Olympic champion.”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs Her Own World Record
An hour after that shock, Americans Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lowered her world record for the sixth time, finishing the 400-meter hurdles in 50.37 seconds for another Olympic blowout.
That was one of three gold medals and eight overall the United States won on a night filled with big events.
Tara Davis-Woodhall jumped 7.10 meters to capture the long jump and get in the Olympic win column next to some greats, including Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Brittney Reese.
Grant Holloway cruised to gold in the 110 hurdles, claiming the Olympic title that eluded him three years ago in his only major-championship loss.
Lyles Said He Tested Positive 2 Days After 100-Meter Final
Lyles said he tested positive early Tuesday morning and quickly got into quarantine.
He drank fluids, rested as much as possible and tried to gear up for the race. USATF said in a statement that Lyles was given “a thorough medical evaluation” and chose to compete.
“We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely,” the statement said.
The scene after the race was jarring. Usually one of the most energetic guys on the track, both before and after any sprint, Lyles collapsed, rolled onto his side and gasped for breath. He turned over on his hands and knees, then went to one knee, and balanced himself with his fist.
He finally stood up and wobbled toward the medics, signaling for a cup of water. Then, he left in a wheelchair.
“It definitely was an effect,” Lyles said. “But I mean, to be honest, I’m more proud of myself than anything for coming out and getting the bronze medal with COVID.”
This Bronze Medal Feels Different Than the Last One
It will take time for all the repercussions of this race to play out.
There’s still a chance Lyles could end up as the bigger-than-track superstar he set out to become after his disappointment in Tokyo three years ago.
Those Games, staged in front of no fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic, took a mental-health toll on Lyles, one he said made him less than himself and led to his disappointing finish in Tokyo.
After he won the 100 Sunday night, he took that Tokyo bronze medal out during his news conference, dropped it on the table and explained it was the thing that motivated him to become a new person and a new sprinter for this Olympic cycle.
The 100-meter thriller sealed the first half of the deal. But instead of breezing through the 200, just getting to the starting line became a product of “trying to get me on as much medication as we legally could to make sure that my body was able to just keep the momentum going.”
Lyles Posts That He Likely Won’t Run in 4×100 Relay
As Thursday turned to Friday in Paris, Lyles took to social media and posted his thanks to fans for their supportive messages and his congratulations to Tebogo and Bednarek.
He also said “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics,” where he was supposed to run the anchor leg in the final of the men’s 4×100 on Friday.
“It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much Joy in my heart,” he wrote. “I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn’t you?”
Javelin Gold for Pakistan and Silver for India
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem put together the best meet of his life in winning the men’s javelin at Stade de France.
Nadeem set a new Olympic record in winning gold. His throw of 92.97 meters in his second attempt smashed the old mark of 90.57 set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway in 2008.
India’s Neeraj Chopra, the 2020 Olympic champion, took silver at 89.45 meters, a season best.