Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19

Noah Lyles fell short of the coveted Olympic “sprint double” on Thursday night at Stade de France, finishing in a stunning third in the 200 m, a race in which he’s the three-time defending world champ. Letsile Tebogo of Botswana won the gold with a time of 19.46 seconds, and Lyles’ American teammate, Kenny Bednarek, won the silver with a time of 19.62. Lyles crossed the line in 19.70 seconds, well clear of Tebogo.

Lyles was taken off the track in a wheelchair, according to a Paris 2024 official, and was receiving medical attention after the race. NBC reported that his mom said he was diagnosed with COVID-19 two days ago. Lyles, who has asthma, was seen wearing a mask Wednesday and Thursday.

Three years ago, Lyles was the heavy favorite in this race at the Tokyo Olympics. He finished third and broke down in tears while talking to journalists afterward. Lyles was diagnosed with depression during the pandemic, and the absence of fans in Tokyo sapped his energy. He opened up about this difficult stretch, then needed to be convinced by his coach and sports psychologist to run in the Prefontaine Classic a few weeks later, to get back on a winning track. Lyles relented, then won that race.

Read More: Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics

He had been ascending ever since. At the 2022 world championships in Eugene, Ore., he broke Michael Johnson’s American record of 19.32 seconds, running it in 19.31. Lyles defended that title last year, added the 100 m to his program and won that world title in Budapest, making him the world’s fastest man, and then on Sunday, caught up to Kishane Thompson of Jamaica at the very, very last moment, winning the 100-m Olympic race by .005 seconds.

Lyles watched his memorable 100-m victory a few hours after winning the race, while receiving treatment. “When I first saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, I really was in last place,’” said Lyles after running his first 200-m round on Monday. His reaction time at the start was tied with Letsile Tebogo of Botswana for slowest in the sprint.

Read More: Why Athletes Who Have COVID-19 Can Still Compete in the Paris Olympics

But Lyles couldn’t go out and celebrate his victory—he had to run the next day. And before that he had to report for boyfriend duty. His girlfriend, 400-m runner Junelle Bromfield of Jamaica, asked him to pick up her spike bag from their massage therapist, who has an Airbnb near the Olympic Village, and return it to her. “So here I am at 2 a.m., waddling with a spike bag, my bag, and some toiletries,” says Lyles. “And I’m like, huh, here I am, Olympic champion, 100 meters, waddling in my girlfriend’s room with all this stuff.”

He’ll return to the track, spike bags and all, for the 4×100 relay tomorrow night, to try to win his second gold of these games.

But Lyles expected more, guaranteeing to TIME before the Olympics that he’d win three gold medals. He displayed his usual showmanship before the race, jumping over the rail during his introduction, and knocking the lane number off his block when he struck it before the start. Coming into Paris, the 200 m was probably his surest thing.

Once again, however, he finished third. — with reporting by Alice Park

Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19

Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19

Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19

Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19

Noah Lyles Wins Olympic Bronze in 200 M Despite Having COVID-19