Lyles, 27, had hoped to achieve the coveted double in the 100 and 200 metres, but his dreams were dashed when, after the race on Thursday, 8 August, he was wheeled off the track. The race was won by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, while Lyles, despite the adversity, managed to secure the bronze medal.

In an emotional Instagram message, Lyles announced, "I think this will be the end of my 2024 Olympic Games. It's not the Games I dreamed of, but it has left me with a lot of joy in my heart." This outcome means the runner will not be part of the American team competing in the 4x100 metre relay final, where they were favourites to contend for gold.

Lyles, who has previously dealt with asthma, was seen wearing a surgical mask shortly before the 200-metre final, which raised concerns about his health. However, when he was introduced to the public, he showed no signs of discomfort, entering the track with energy and enthusiasm, gesturing to encourage the crowd.

In an interview with NBC, Lyles described how he began to feel unwell. "I woke up early, around 05:00 CEST on Tuesday, and I felt really terrible. I knew it wasn't just the usual soreness after the 100 metres. We woke the doctors, did tests, and unfortunately, it came back positive for Covid."

The runner acknowledged that his illness affected his performance in the race but expressed pride in winning a medal despite the circumstances. "I'm very proud of myself for winning bronze with Covid," he stated. "We tried to keep this as close to the chest. Only people who knew were the medical staff, my coach, and my family. We didn't want everybody to go into a panic. We wanted them to be able to compete. And you don't really want to tell your competitors you're sick. Why would you give them an edge over you?"

USA Track and Field issued a statement following Lyles' revelation, stating that "team officials took all necessary measures to prioritise his health, the wellbeing of our team, and the safety of other competitors" after the athlete's positive test. "Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of the athletes of Team USA while respecting their right to compete," the statement read. "After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely."

The organisation also highlighted its strict adherence to guidelines for respiratory illnesses in order to prevent the spread of the virus among team members. Lyles, for his part, has once again demonstrated his status as one of the greats of global athletics.