Noah Lyles withdraws from Olympics after COVID-19 diagnosis, missing 4x100m relay

Noah Lyles, the "World's Fastest Man," has announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. Lyles, who recently won the bronze in the 200m final, shared the news through an Instagram post, expressing that his Olympic journey has come to an unexpected end. "I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much joy in my heart," Lyles wrote. Despite the setback, he added, "Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn't you? 😉 See you next time."

Lyles had been scheduled to compete in the men’s 4x100m relay final on Friday, but his diagnosis and subsequent withdrawal mean he will no longer participate. His mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, confirmed the diagnosis in an interview with NBC Olympics, explaining that Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week but decided to race despite his illness. "Yeah, I woke up early about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning and I just was feeling really horrible," Lyles told NBC. "My first thought was not to panic... And we just took it day by day, trying to hydrate as much, quarantined off."

Lyles, who won the gold in the 100m final earlier in the Games, was favored to win the 200m but finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds. After the race, he required medical attention and was seen being taken off the track in a wheelchair, raising concerns about his condition. NBC commentator Lewis Johnson reported that Lyles' mother was distraught as they searched for him in the medical area.

This marks the second consecutive Olympics where COVID-19 has impacted Lyles' performance. He previously won bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, where he faced challenges due to the pandemic, including empty stands and a one-year delay, which he has said contributed to depression that affected his performance.