In the 100m race at the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles snagged his first-ever Olympic gold medal, becoming the first American to do so in nearly two decades. What a feat! With the 200-meter race just four days away, Lyles was already favored to take another gold. Being the third-fastest of all time in the 200-meter—how could he not be? But then, plot twist: he tested positive for COVID.

This wasn’t just about speed anymore; it turned into a full-on race against time. But Lyles still pushed through. And guess what? He pulled off a bronze medal, finishing behind Letsile Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek. He’s now finally opened up about his initial reaction and what gave him the strength to grab that second Olympic medal in the heart of Paris.

Noah Lyles fought more than just COVID to earn double-medal glory

In an interview with ESPN, Noah Lyles revealed that when he found out he tested positive for COVID-19, his reaction was… well, not exactly shock. He said, “I wasn’t shocked because I had already felt so bad when the results came back. It was definitely like, what are our options with the doctors.” The doctors told him as long as he doesn’t have a fever, he is eligible to compete. They gave him the green light as long as his fever stayed down. From that moment on, it was all about balancing strict protocols to keep others safe and giving him the best shot to contend.

Lyles also had to power through with strong medication, though it couldn’t touch the crushing fatigue he was battling. Still, he wasn’t ready to bow out of his signature 200m race. “I was like, until I get knocked out of this thing, I wanna give it my best shot.” But even as he raced, something was off.

“I mean, again, it was the fatigue for sure. I didn’t have my pep in my step and was in a fake it-to-make-it scenario,” he said. However, Noah Lyles still wanted to not only compete but put up a resolute challenge for the medal. He assured himself he could push through it all. Sure, a bronze isn’t the same as his three World Championship golds in the 200m, but given the circumstances, it’s still a huge win. And it also holds a special sentiment!

How did Noah Lyles’ bronze in the Paris 200-meter differ from his Tokyo medal?

In 2021, Noah Lyles’ bronze medal in the Tokyo 200 meters was a hard-fought prize, won amidst personal battles and a tough year. Three years later, he carried that bronze with him as a reminder of his struggles when he packed for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Then, when he snagged gold in Paris, he proudly held up that same bronze medal from Tokyo, saying, “I was fueled as soon as I saw this in my hands.” It was a symbol of his journey and resilience. But did he feel the same about his Paris bronze?

During the same ESPN interview, Lyles was asked if his bronze medal while battling COVID compared to a healthy win. He admitted that, despite the tough circumstances, it was his most impressive achievement. Running a medal-worthy race just days after testing positive for COVID was no small feat.

And even his coach, Lance Brauman, agreed, sharing in another interview, “He (Noah) will have the most satisfaction out of the bronze.” The big question still lingers: Would Lyles have taken gold in the 200 meters if he hadn’t been sidelined by illness? What do you think of this vulnerable confession by the phenom? Share in the comments below!