Noah Lyles Leaves Paris Olympics Race In Wheelchair After Winning Bronze With Covid

Noah Lyles knows how to keep his eye on the prize no matter what. The sprinter scored bronze in the 200-meter race at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 8 and alarmed viewers when he appeared winded following his third-place finish. He laid down on the ground before being escorted off the track in a wheelchair, later explaining to reporters that he had tested positive for Covid earlier in the week. Noah shared that he woke up feeling “really horrible” on the day he was diagnosed and had been focusing on getting rest and staying hydrated. Though he noted that the illness is “taking its toll” he said he did his best to stay calm and ultimately decided to proceed with the event. “My first thought was not to panic. I’ve been in worse situations. I’ve run with worse conditions. We just took it day by day,” he said. USA Track and Field said in a statement to Access Hollywood that Noah’s medical team followed all necessary protocols to ensure the safety of him and his fellow athletes, adding that they “respected his decision” to compete after a thorough evaluation and will continue monitoring his condition closely.