Featured Image Credit: Instagram/keisha_caine_bishop / Getty
Topics: Olympics, Athletics, United States
Ryan Smart
Topics: Olympics, Athletics, United States
The mother of US sprinting star Noah Lyles has slammed Olympic security officials after her son won the bronze medal in the men's 200m final.
Lyles was one of the favourites heading into the event, alongside Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, but could only run a time of 19.70 - comfortably below his lifetime best.
The 27-year-old was then seen receiving medical attention and being placed onto a wheelchair after the race, and he subsequently confirmed that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days earlier.
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Lyles said that there was no doubt in his mind about going ahead with the race, although US legend Michael Johnson described his decision as 'very bizarre'.
Now, the Olympic 100m champion's mother has given her account of the scenes at the end of the 200m race - and has made a series of claims about what Olympic security officials did when Lyles required treatment.
In a post on Instagram, Keisha Caine Bishop wrote: "That was one of the scariest moments of my life!
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"Watching my son hold his chest gasping for air while the stadium security refused to call a doctor as I begged them to send him help.
"They also refused to do anything to help. They totally ignored me! No parent should ever have to experience this feeling of helpnessness!
"However, I do want to thank the NBC Olympics team for helping me during this moment.
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"Thank you for seeing me and my son as human beings and not just another story. Words cannot express my gratitude for your empathy, professionalism and kindness.
"Also thank you to the USA Track and Field staff who let me cry on their shoulders.
"To the security team, I pray if your loved one ever needs help, they get treated better than you treated us. I also thank God he is getting better."
Olympics organisers have yet to respond to Bishop's claims. SPORTbible has contacted Paris 2024 organisers for comment.