Marcus Chan
Footage of Noah Lyles immediately after the 200m final has emerged after he only managed to win the bronze medal.
Heading into the 200m Olympic final at the Stade de France on Thursday night, American superstar Lyles was the hot favourite.
The 27-year-old won the 100m earlier in the week after beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and USA teammate Fred Kerley.
However, to the shock of the stadium, it was Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo who ended up winning the gold medal. Kenny Bednarek of the USA won the silver medal with Lyles winning the bronze.
After the race, footage emerged showing Lyles sitting on the ground and struggling to get back up on his feet.
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Eventually, the American got up gingerly and immediately asked for a bottle of water before sitting back down on the floor. You can watch the footage below.
Shortly after the race, it was revealed that Lyles was suffering from a bout of COVID-19.
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On Lyles’ COVID diagnostic, four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson said: “[The medics] would've given him the OK to race, he's probably not in danger of anything by racing other than being 100 per cent and able to perform the way that he would want to.”
Speaking after the race, Lyles told NBC, as per the Daily Mail: “I woke up early, about 5:00am on Tuesday morning, and I just was feeling really horrible.
“I knew it was more than just being sore from the 100. I woke up the doctors and we tested, and unfortunately, it cape up I was positive for COVID.”
He added: “My first thought was not to panic. I was thinking I have been in worse situations, and I have run with worse conditions, I felt. And we just took it day by day, trying to hydrate as much, quarantined off and I would say it's taken its toll for sure, but I have never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and getting a bronze medal where last Olympics I was very disappointed.
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“This time, I couldn't be more proud.”