Noah Lyles, a favorite to win gold at the 200-meter final at the Paris Games, came in third, securing bronze. His place on the podium was a shock, until shortly after the race he was seen being tended to by medical staff and taken off in a wheelchair. The first thought was that he may have run through an injury, but the reality was he ran while ill from COVID.
Lyles tested positive a few days ago and described attempting to quarantine to the best of his ability leading up to the 200-meter. He did not break any Olympic protocols by participating in the event. Teams and individuals are able to participate at their discretion even if COVID positive in 2024 after restrictions for the past two Games.
