Noah Lyles explains why he still took part in controversial 200m race despite positive Covid test
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images/Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Noah Lyles has explained exactly why he still took part in the controversial 200m final despite having tested positive for Covid.
The 27-year-old Team USA star said he was 'proud' to take home the bronze medal after being hit with Covid - which he kept secret from his opponents.
But, before that, Noah claimed the 100m gold title by five-thousandths of a second in the eagerly-anticipated final on Sunday (4 August).
Advert
Due to having Covid, Noah wasn't able to match his pace - severely impacting his chances to become the first man since Usain Bolt to complete an individual Olympic sprint double.
Speaking to the BBC about the situation, he admitted: "It definitely affected my performance.
"I’ve had to take a lot of breaks. I was coughing through the night. I’m more proud of myself than anything, coming out here to get a bronze with Covid.
"I was quite light-headed after that race. Shortness of breath, chest pain, but after a while I could catch my breath and get my wits about me. I'm a lot better now."
Explaining his decision to keep his positive Covid test hidden, Noah continued: "We were trying to keep this close to the chest.
"The people who knew were the medical staff, my coach, my mum. We didn't want everybody going into a panic.
"I'm competitive. Why would you give [your rivals] an edge over you?"
Noah said he tested positive around 5am on Tuesday morning (6 August) after waking up in the night and experiencing symptoms of aching, chills and a sore throat.
He was later quarantined in a hotel close to the Olympic Village with his team who 'tried to get me on as much medication as we legally could to make sure my body could keep the momentum going'.
"I still wanted to run, it was still possible, we just stayed away from everybody," Noah added.
"This is by far the best day I've felt out of the last three days. Still not 100% but closer to 90 to 95%.
"That only works for one shot. I've got to settle down for a while. It's one and done, there's no holding back."
USA Track and Field (USATF) told BBC Sport that it and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) 'swiftly enacted all necessary protocols to prioritise his health, the wellbeing of our team, and the safety of fellow competitors' after hearing of Noah's positive Covid test.
"Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely," USATF said.
"As an organisation, we are rigorously adhering to CDC [Centres for Disease Control and Prevention], USOPC, and IOC [International Olympic Committee] guidelines for respiratory illnesses to prevent the spread of illness among team members, safeguarding their health and performance."
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo bagged the gold medal in the 200m final while Team USA's Kenny Bednarek took home the silver.