With the echoes of “U-S-A” fading into the background and hearts weighed down by disappointment, Noah Lyles faced a crushing blow as his Olympic dreams went up in smoke. Aiming to etch his name among legends like Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis, Lyles fell short in his quest to sweep the sprints at the Paris Games. In the 200m final at Stade de France, Lyles found himself trailing by what must’ve felt like a country mile after the turn into the homestretch.

Clocking in at 19.70 seconds, he finished a distant third behind gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana (19.46 seconds) and fellow American Kenny Bednarek (19.62 seconds). The defeat not only dashed Lyles’ hope of becoming the first man to sweep both sprints at an Olympics since Bolt in 2016 but also the first American to do so in 40 years, leaving his dreams in tatters. However, this missed opportunity wasn’t what angered fans. Neither was it regarding the sprinter’s comments about the NBA.

On Tuesday, Noah Lyles tested positive for COVID-19. While he may have entered the track on Thursday for the 200m final just as he always does, his method of departure was a first. Looking more out of breath than usual, he sat down, waited for medical help, and was escorted off the track in a wheelchair. Approximately 15 minutes later, Lyles reappeared wearing a black KN95 mask. He confirmed his diagnosis to NBC. “I woke up early, about 5 AM Tuesday morning, and was feeling really horrible… I woke up the doctors, tested, and unfortunately, it came up positive.”

Despite the setback, Lyles remained composed, noting that he never considered skipping the 200m final. “It’s taken its toll for sure, but I’ve never been prouder of myself for coming out here and getting the bronze medal,” he added. But Lyles’ decision to compete while infected did not go unnoticed. After the race, he was seen hugging Tebogo (and his compatriot, Bednarek), which ignited a firestorm of criticism. But before getting to that, let’s take you back to the Tokyo Olympics.

After being delayed to 2021, the IOC, IPC, and the Japanese organizers laid down strict rules athletes had to follow. No hugging, no handshakes, and no socializing. These were the basic ground rules to avoid the cultivation and spread of the virus. Considering this, it would’ve been fair to assume that Noah Lyles would distance himself from his fellow athletes in Paris, especially after testing positive. But when that didn’t happen, a fan wrote, “You hugged Tebogo after the race, knowing you have COVID??? They should arrest YOU!!!” This was just the beginning of the backlash Noah Lyles faced.

Fans furious about Noah Lyles “exposing literally everyone around him” to COVID-19

A fan on X criticized Lyles, highlighting how he was “irresponsible and self-serving, putting others at risk,” expressing concern for the health of fellow athletes. Lyles had been seen wearing a surgical mask in the pre-race area and afterward, presumably to prevent the spread of illness. Obviously not wearing it during the event, the American resumed his precautionary measures after the race. However, since he’s kept this detail about testing positive, it raised questions about his consideration for others’ health.

Notably, Kenny Bednarek was asked about his teammate’s COVID-19 situation. He replied, “I don’t think I was put at risk. When I found out, it wasn’t that big of a deal. He went out there and did his best while he was sick and I hope he gets better.” Well, not everyone in the community echoed this sentiment. One fan remarked, “Noah Lyles is about to k*ill himself,” highlighting concerns over his health risks.

Lyles’ achievement in running comes with significant challenges, given his history of severe asthma and recent COVID-19 infection. Open about his childhood asthma struggles, Lyles detailed in 2020 how he faced frequent hospital visits and a weakened immune system from ages 3 to 7. This explains his cautious approach, including wearing a mask after contracting COVID-19 in Paris. The coronavirus and asthma affect your respiratory system, and their combined impact can severely compromise your ability to breathe. This increases the risk of severe respiratory distress, which can be life-threatening if not managed promptly.

Even before the 100m, Noah Lyles opened up about his struggles. He posted on X, “I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression.
But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become.” The American may have won hearts by saying this, but the 200m ordeal didn’t. One comment criticized those congratulating Noah Lyles for competing despite testing positive for COVID-19.

“Side eyeing everyone who is congratulating Noah Lyles for competing while knowing he has Covid. Y’all are disgusting and don’t take Public Health seriously”. Per this year’s ruling, nothing explicitly prohibits athletes from competing in Paris if they test positive. Paris organizers have stated that rules regarding athlete participation are managed by international federations and individual National Olympic Committees, and they directed inquiries to those bodies for more details.

Lyles admitted he didn’t disclose his positive test to his teammates before the 200-meter final to avoid giving competitors an advantage. Following the final, he explained, “You never want to tell your competitors you’re sick; why would you give them an edge over you?” According to a UN report, at least 40 athletes at the Paris Games have tested positive for COVID-19, with a 20% positivity rate in Europe. Due to strict testing policies at the Games, the full extent of the virus’ prevalence among athletes and team personnel remains unclear.

Similarly, one person said, “Why is Noah Lyles running with COVID and exposing literally everyone around him to it…” On a separate note, a fan insinuated how the years of training to win gold didn’t pay off for Lyles just because he contracted the virus: “Fuuuuu*k, Noah Lyles has COVID, just competed and got 3rd instead of the expected gold. ALL. THAT. TRAINING.” Meanwhile, Lyles was supposed to be part of the relay team, too. But it looks increasingly unlikely that he would participate, especially after mentioning he would defer to USA Track & Field’s decision.