The men’s 200 meters did not go to expectation at the 2024 Paris Olympics with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo running away from the field to win the gold medal in 19.46 seconds. Tebogo, 21, became the youngest man to win gold in the 200 meters since the United States’ Bobby Morrow in 1956 and the first man from an African nation to do so in Olympic history.
All eyes entering the event were on United States sprinting sensation Noah Lyles, who won the 100 meters on Sunday and had an eye on setting a world record in the 200 meters. He was looking to become the first American to pull off the 100-200 double since Carl Lewis in 1984.
Instead, Lyles, who battles asthma and wore a mask backstage before being introduced, looked gassed and needed medical assistance the race. He never came near the lead before ultimately finishing third in 19.70 seconds for a bronze medal
It was revealed after the race on NBC that Lyles was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday. He received medical assistance shortly after crossing the finish line and again behind the scenes. The IOC decided to drop previous COVID-19 protocols ahead of the Paris Olympics with the disease instead treated like other respiratory illnesses; athletes and teams were allowed to determine their ability to compete.
Lyles’ personal best in the 200 meters is 19.31 seconds, an American record set at the 2022 World Championships. His season best was 19.53 seconds set at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, and it stands to reason he would have been more competitive toward gold had he not been dealing with the illness.
Between the duo was fellow American Kenny Bednarek, who won a silver medal in 19.62 seconds. Bednarek and Lyles similarly finished in silver and bronze positions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Pulling off the 100-200 double is extremely difficult as only nine men have achieved the feat in history. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (2008, 2012, 2016) is the last man to win gold medals in both events during the same Olympic Games. Prior to Bolt came Lewis at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
