PARIS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- American sprinter Noah Lyles revealed that he competed in Thursday's 200m final at the Paris Olympics despite suffering from COVID-19.
Lyles, who won gold in the 100m on Sunday, said he tested positive for the virus on Tuesday morning.
"I was just feeling really horrible, and I knew it was more than just being sore from the [100m race]," Lyles said after finishing third in the 200m final at Stade de France. "I woke up the doctors and we tested, and unfortunately, it came out that I was positive for Covid."
Lyles crossed the line in his pet event in 19.70 seconds, 0.24 seconds behind winner Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Fellow American Kenneth Bednarek took silver in 19.62.
Lyles said he was proud of his performance given his ill health.
"We just took it day-by-day trying to hydrate as much, quarantined off," the 27-year-old said. "I definitely say that it's taken its toll for sure but I've 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, and this time, I couldn't be more proud."
