Noah Lyles’ 2024 Paris Olympics journey has come to an end.
On August 8, after finishing third in the men’s 200m final, Lyles announced on Instagram that he will not be competing in any further events. The 27-year-old athlete raced just two days after testing positive for COVID-19 and had to be assisted off the track in a wheelchair.
In his Instagram post, Lyles expressed gratitude, saying, “First, I want to thank God for helping me through these Olympics! Congratulations to @tebogo_letsile_ and @kenny_bednarek, and everyone else who participated in an incredible 200m final.” He praised Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who won gold, and Team USA’s Kenny Bednarek, who took silver.
Lyles added, “I appreciate all the supportive messages. This may not have been the Olympic experience I had hoped for, but it has brought me a lot of joy.” He also mentioned his hope that spectators enjoyed the competition, regardless of their support for him.
Prior to his withdrawal, Lyles had planned to compete in the men’s 4x100m relay final on August 9.
Lyles, who won the men’s 100m final on August 4, told NBC News that his COVID-19 diagnosis “definitely affected my performance,” but he remained proud of earning a bronze medal despite the circumstances. “It’s been a wild Olympics,” he said.
He also revealed that he kept his diagnosis private from other competitors, stating, “We wanted to keep this as discreet as possible. You don’t want to give your competitors an advantage.”
USA Track & Field issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to athlete safety while respecting their right to compete. They noted that after a thorough medical evaluation, Lyles decided to race, and they continued to monitor his condition closely.