2024 Olympics: Noah Lyles, dealing with COVID-19, wins bronze medal in 200 meters; Kenny Bednarek takes silver

The men’s 200 meters did not go to expectation at the 2024 Paris Olympics with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo running away from the field to win the gold medal in 19.46 seconds. Tebogo, 21, became the youngest man to win gold in the 200 meters since the United States’ Bobby Morrow in 1956, the first man from an African nation win the event in Olympic history and the first person from Botswana to win a gold medal in any Olympic event.

All eyes entering the event were on United States sprinting sensation Noah Lyles, who won the 100 meters on Sunday and had an eye on setting a world record in the 200 meters, his signature event. Lyles was looking to become the first American to pull off the 100-200 double since Carl Lewis in 1984.

Instead, Lyles, who battles asthma and wore a mask backstage before being introduced, looked gassed and needed medical assistance after the race. He never came near the lead before ultimately finishing third in 19.70 seconds for a bronze medal.

Lyles confirmed after the race that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday but tried his best to prepare for the race while being safe and cautious of those surrounding him. He received medical assistance almost immediately after crossing the finish line. The IOC decided to drop previous COVID-19 protocols ahead of the Paris Olympics with the disease instead treated like other respiratory illnesses; athletes and teams were allowed to determine their ability to compete.

“My first thought was not to panic, thinking I’ve been in worse situations. I’ve run with worse conditions, I’ve felt,” said Lyles on NBC regarding his mindset after receiving the positive diagnosis. “We just took it day by day, tried to hydrate as much as possible, quarantined off. It’s taken its toll [on me] for sure, but I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and get a bronze medal. Whereas last Olympics I was very disappointed [winning bronze], this time, I couldn’t be more proud.”

Lyles’ personal best in the 200 meters is 19.31 seconds, an American record set at the 2022 World Championships. His season best was 19.53 seconds set at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, and it stands to reason he would have been more competitive toward gold had he not been dealing with the illness.

Between the duo was fellow American Kenny Bednarek, who won a silver medal in 19.62 seconds. Bednarek and Lyles similarly finished in silver and bronze positions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Lyles is scheduled for one more medal race at the Paris Games, the 4×100-meter relay. Following the 200 meters, he was not sure whether he would compete alongside his American teammates.

“At the moment, I don’t know. I’m feeling more on the side of letting Team USA do their thing,” he said. “They’ve proven with great certainty they can handle it without me. If that’s the case, coming off today, I’m perfectly fine saying, ‘Hey, you guys do your thing; you have more than enough speed to handle it and get the gold medal.”

Pulling off the 100-200 double is extremely difficult as only nine men have achieved the feat in history. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (2008, 2012, 2016) is the last man to win gold medals in both events during the same Olympic Games. Prior to Bolt came Lewis at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.