On Wednesday, August 21, Noah Lyles appeared on NBC’s TODAY show to reflect on his whirlwind experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lyles shared the highs and lows of his journey, from the thrill of winning gold in the 100m to the shock of being diagnosed with COVID-19 just days later. Despite battling symptoms, he pushed through to claim a bronze medal in the 200m, a feat that showcased his determination.

Lyles began his quest for Olympic glory with a thrilling victory in the 100m, aiming to become the first man since Usain Bolt to complete the 100-200 double. On August 4, at the iconic Stade de France, Lyles achieved his dream in dramatic fashion, leaning forward at the perfect moment to edge out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just 0.005 seconds in a photo finish. Both sprinters were credited with a time of 9.78 seconds, but it was Lyles who claimed the gold, cementing his place in track and field history.

However, following the emphatic 100m race, Lyles found himself in a completely different situation at the 200m final. Following his third-place finish, Lyles told the press that he had been dealing with COVID-19 after testing positive on Tuesday. “I woke up in the middle of the night with chills, aches, and a sore throat,” Lyles said, wearing a black KN95 mask as he recounted the experience. Despite the illness, Lyles added a bronze to his collection but wasn’t satisfied with it.

Lyles shared his true rollercoaster of emotions, expressing joy followed by the disappointment. “Oh my gosh, I feel horrible, waking up in the middle of the night,” he told the TODAY show. “I’m calling the doctors like we got to get a COVID test,” Lyles vividly described the ordeal.

Even though things didn’t go as planned in the 200m final, Lyles was grateful for his bronze medal. “Then, getting ready to run and going through the rounds—they didn’t go how I wanted them to. But, you know, getting to the finals and winning, I was like, ‘Wow, yeah, truly by a hair. I was like, ‘Wow, this is not how I pictured it, but here it is.”

Moreover, Lyles had other worries as well. He was concerned about about his COVID-19 diagnosis and feared about possibly spreading it.

A star on and off the track – Noah Lyles was concerned for participants

Noah Lyles shared his worries during the 200m medal ceremony. “I wanted to get my medal, but we were very wary of not interfering with—because these are older people who are giving me the medals,” Lyles shared on the TODAY show. He and his team had consulted with the IOC to ensure everyone involved was comfortable with his participation.

Lyles was diagnosed with COVID-19 two days before the 200m. Despite running with a 102-degree fever, as disclosed by his coach, he managed to compete. He participated in the medal ceremony while keeping a distance from the medalists, seen in the photo he took with Kishane Thompson and Fred Kerley after winning gold in the 100m final.

Reflecting on his resilience, Lyles said, “Even catching COVID, it’s like OK, I’ve gone through asthma and sickness throughout my whole career; this is just another day in the life of Noah Lyles essentially, trying to fight through another hurdle to get over.” Although he was forced to withdraw from the 4×100 relay, Lyles remained proud of his bronze medal achievement, viewing it as another challenge conquered in his journey.