NEXT MAN UP
Noah Lyles confirms ‘end of my 2024 Olympics’ after shock Covid diagnosis in Paris and just hours before 4x100m relay
Team USA qualified for the 4x100m final without Noah Lyles on Thursday
TEAM USA sensation Noah Lyles has confirmed his Paris Olympics experience is likely over.
The track and field star suggested he would miss the men's 4x100-meter relay after finishing third in the 200-meter dash, which he competed in while dealing with Covid on Thursday.
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Lyles, 27, took bronze behind Team USA's Kenny Bednarek and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, who claimed gold.
After the race, he looked tired and collapsed on the track, clearly struggling to breathe.
Medics quickly came to the Team USA sprinter's aid, pulling him away in a wheelchair.
It was then revealed Lyles had Covid, despite hugging teammate Bednarek after the finish.
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Later that day, the Virginia native confirmed he would not compete for the rest of the 2024 Games.
"First I want to thank God for getting me through this entire Olympics!" he posted on Instagram.
"Second I want to congratulate @tebogo_letsile_, @kenny_bednarek, and everyone else on an amazing Olympic 200m final.
"Finally I want to thank everyone for the supportive messages. I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics.
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"It is not the Olympics I dreamed of but it has left me with so much Joy in my heart.
"I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn't you?"
Noah Lyles continues his quest to prove he's the 'Fastest Man in the World' at Olympics
Lyles opened up about his Covid battle shortly after the race.
"I woke up about 5 am on Tuesday morning and was feeling really horrible," he said.
"I knew it was more than being sore from the 100m. We woke up the doctors and tested, and unfortunately, it came up that I was positive for Covid.
"My first thought was not to panic. I've been in worse situations, I've run with worse conditions I've felt.
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"We just took it day by day, tried to hydrate, quarantined off and I would definitely say it's taken it's toll for sure.
"But I've never been more proud of myself to come out here and get a bronze medal. Last Olympics I was very disappointed and this time I couldn't be more proud."
Lyles also suggested that his 4x100 relay participation was in serious doubt.
"At the moment, I don't know. I'm feeling more on the side of letting Team USA do their thing," he said.
"They're proven with great certainty that they can handle it without me.
"If that's the case coming off of today, I'm perfectly fine with saying you guys do your thing, you guys have speed to be able to get the gold medal."
With Lyles out for the 4x100m relay, Team USA may have to look for a replacement.
However, the team may not have to look that far as they qualified for the final without Lyles on Thursday.
Lyles missed the 4x100m qualifier to prepare for his 200m race on Thursday.
The Team USA 4x100m team consisted of Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King, and Courtney Lindsey.
During the qualifiers on Thursday, Team USA recorded the best time at 37.47 seconds.
Team USA previously failed to qualify for the final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Other countries competing in the 4x100m relay include South Africa, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, China, France, and Canada.
After falling to fifth place in the second heat, Jamaica did not qualify for the final this year.
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Jamaica previously won the event in 2012 and 2016, led by legendary sprinter Usain Bolt.
The Men's 4x100m relay will take place on Friday at 1:47 pm Eastern time.
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