Noah Lyles Defies Covid-19, Wins Bronze Medal in Olympic 200 Metres Sprint
Despite testing positive for Covid-19 just days earlier, American athlete Noah Lyles showed remarkable resilience and determination as he took home the bronze medal in the Olympic 200 metres sprint on Thursday. The 27-year-old, who suffers from asthma, left the track in a wheelchair after the finish, admitting that the illness had definitely affected his performance.
In a rare interview on Sunday, Lyles discussed his experience with Covid-19, stating that he had been more concerned about the virus’ severe symptoms than his temperature. He recalled feeling body aches, chills, headaches, and cold, with asthma exacerbating the situation.
Lyles’ decision to compete in the 200 metres sprint despite testing positive sparked some criticism, with concerns about possibly infecting others. However, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee had no issues with his participation, and Lyles ultimately decided to race.
While he did not win the gold or silver medals, Lyles took pride in his performance, saying it was "the most important thing" for him to have competed. He added that he was used to criticism, citing his experiences with dyslexia and depression, and encouraged others to overcome their own obstacles.
The athlete expressed gratitude for the support of his family, particularly his mother, Keisha Caine Bishop, who is featured in his new Visa campaign. Lyles is now looking to make a bigger name for himself, preparing for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September and exploring other fields such as fashion and music in the coming year.
In his own words, Lyles conveyed a powerful message of perseverance, stating, "I hope the message they got is no matter what obstacles or hurdles that you have and you’re facing and you don’t believe that you’re going to be stuck with them forever. Your goals should not be limited to the situation that you’re in because you can always shoot for more."
