Olympic 100-meter champion Noah Lyles announced he tested positive two days before finishing third and winning the bronze medal in the 200-meter final on Thursday.
Lyles, who had attempted to complete the 100 and 200-meter events in Paris, was taken off the track in a wheelchair after the race, which was won by Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
Lyles, 27, who has suffered from asthma in the past, was seen wearing a surgical mask shortly before the 200-meter final on Thursday.
However, there were no signs of illness when the American was introduced to the crowd before the race, jumping onto the track and waving his arms to cheer the crowd on.
In an interview with NBC, Lyles said: “I woke up early, about 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and I felt really awful.
“I knew it was more than just the soreness from the 100 (meters). We woke up the doctors and got tested, and unfortunately it turned out I tested positive for Covid.”
Lyles later told reporters that his illness “definitely affected my performance.”
“But to be honest, I’m most proud of myself,” he added. “That I won the bronze medal despite Covid.”
“We tried to keep it as secret as possible. The only people who knew were the medical staff, my coach, my mother and my family. We didn’t want everyone to panic.
“We wanted them to remain competitive. And you don’t really want to tell your competitors that you’re sick. Why give up an advantage over yourself?”
USA Track and Field said in a statement that following Lyles’ positive test on Tuesday, U.S. team officials “have enacted all necessary protocols to prioritize his health, the well-being of our team and the safety of fellow competitors.”
“Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while preserving their right to compete,” the statement said.
“After a thorough medical examination, Noah has decided to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.
“As an organization, we strictly adhere to respiratory guidelines to prevent the spread of disease among team members and protect their health and performance.”
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