 "Paris Olympics 2024: Tebogo stuns COVID-positive Lyles amid favouritism claims")
Noah Lyles was targetting a 100m-200m double at Paris Olympics. He had clinched the 100m gold by the slimmest of margins. But the hopes of joining the likes of Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt were dashed as he finished third in the 200m race.
Lyles was taken off the track in a wheelchair following the race, won by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
The American later revealed he tested positive for Covid two days before finishing third in the’s 200m final, adding that he believed his involvement in the Paris Games was now over.
He later posted on Instagram: “I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics.
“It is not the Olympic(s) I dreamed of but it has left me with so much joy in my heart,” Lyles added.
It means Lyles will play no part when the US quartet attempt to win 4x100m relay gold.
The 27-year-old, who has suffered from asthma in the past, had been seen wearing a surgical mask shortly before Thursday’s 200m final.
However, there had been no sign of illness when the American was introduced to the crowd before the race, bounding onto the track and gesticulating with his arms to pump up the crowd.
In an interview, Lyles said: “I woke up early, about 5:00am on Tuesday morning and I was feeling really horrible.
“I knew it was more than just being sore from the 100 (metres). We woke up the doctors and we tested and unfortunately, it came up that I was positive for Covid,” he told NBC.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsLyles later told reporters that his illness “definitely affected my performance”.
“But to be honest, I’m more proud of myself than anything,” he added. “Coming out and getting the bronze medal with Covid.
“We tried to keep this as close to the chest. Only people who knew were the medical staff, my coach, my mom, my family. We didn’t want everybody to go into a panic.
“We wanted them to be able to compete. And you don’t really want to tell your competitors you’re sick. Why would you give an edge over you?”
USA Track and Field said in a statement that US team officials had “enacted all necessary protocols to prioritise his health, the wellbeing of our team, and the safety of fellow competitors” following Lyles’ positive test on Tuesday.
“Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete,” the statement said.
“After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.
“As an organisation, we are rigorously adhering to… guidelines for respiratory illnesses to prevent the spread of illness among team members.”
‘Favouritism’
Letsile Tebogo was asked after winning the men's 200m final if he aspires to world records and being the face of track and field.
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 8, 2024
Here was his answer:
"I can't be the face of athletics because I'm not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah (Lyles)."#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/HzafPb1kaM
Tebogo became the first African to win the event as finished in 19.46 seconds, ahead of Kenny Bednarek and Lyles.
Later, Tebogo dismissed suggestions that he will be the face of athletics as he claimed that he isn’t ’loud and arrogant’ as Lyles.
When asked if this performance would catapault him into stardom like Bolt, the Botswana sprinter shook his head and brushed aside the suggestions.
“I can’t be the face of athletics as I’m not a loud or arrogant person like Noah,” he said.
Just before the race, Kenny Bednarek said there was “favouritism” by the race organisers towards Lyles. As per him, the hosts gave Lyles Lane 5 to give him a technical advantage.
On X, he shared the issue: “Never seen favoritism like this on a global scale,” wrote the silver medallist in the event at Tokyo 2020 and the world’s second-ranked 200m runner behind Lyles.
Never seen favoritism like this on a global scale.
— Kung Fu Kenny (@kenny_bednarek) August 7, 2024
The middle lanes (5-8) are considered the preferred positions for the 200m race, as the inside and outside lanes have issues with visibility.
After the social media post, Bednarek was moved from Lane 9 to Lane 8 and clinched the silver medal.
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