Noah Lyles wanted to get over his Tokyo heartbreak in style at Stade de France. Things seemed to be in his favor after he clinched his first Olympics gold in the 100m finals. As he stepped into the stadium with his infectious energy, everyone believed he had it in the bag. The crowds refused to stop, their chants of ‘USA’ growing louder by the second. But the 27-year-old couldn’t move past Kenny Bednarek and Letsile Tebogo, settling for yet another Olympic bronze in the 200m finals.

Shortly after, the American sprinter was spotted being wheeled out of the stadium. While many fans were worried about an asthma attack or a more severe health scare, it was later revealed that Lyles had tested positive for COVID at 5 am Paris time on Tuesday, August 6. Even though he didn’t contest in the 4x100m event on August 9th, he made a triumphant return to Stade de France for the 200m medal ceremony. The 27-year-old was given a warm welcome as he walked into the stadium wearing a black face mask.

However, he seemed a lot calmer compared to the infectious energy he usually exudes. Patiently waiting for his name to be called, the sprinter stepped onto the familiar third step, waving to his adoring fans. However, his next move caught everyone by surprise. It’s customary to see winners shake hands post receiving their medals. But when the official extended her hand to Noah Lyles, he offered her a elbow bump instead. She couldn’t help but smile at the gesture.

The sprinter then took a lap around the stadium. While Tebogo walked around taking selfies, the 27-year-old waved to everyone from afar. Even though his pearly whites were hidden this time around, you could tell he was soaking in every bit of the love and cheers his fans were showering him with. It must have been cathartic walking around the very tracks he had to be wheeled out of the previous night. While his Olympic journey might have ended abruptly, the French capital gave him a heartwarming send off.

Noah Lyles’ risky move in the 200m finals backfired in more ways than one

Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles’ audacious claim of a sprint quadruple was on everyone’s mind. On August 5, he lived up to the hype by edging Kishane Thompson out in a Louvre Museum worthy photo finish. Next up was the men’s 200m event. The 27-year-old trailed behind Letsile Tebogo with 20.08 seconds on the clock in the semi-finals. However, many were confident he would pull off another breathtaking win on August 8.

Instead, it was Botswanan sprinter who clinched his first Olympic gold medal with an African record of 19.46. Trailing behind him was Kenny Bednarek in 19.62 seconds, and Lyles came in third with 19.70 seconds. However, what no one expected was to watch the 27-year-old collapse to the ground shortly after. Noah Lyles had tested positive for COVID-19 hours before he was set to contest in the race. No one apart from the medical staff and his mom knew of it.

Even though he wore a face mask on his return to the Stade de France on August 9, he didn’t do the same during the finals. He was even seen congratulating and hugging Tebogo for his win. Lyles happened to be in close contact with several individuals throughout the evening, a stark difference from the medal ceremony today. What are you thoughts on the supportive display for Noah Lyles at Stade de France? Let us know in the comments!