Olympic champion Noah Lyles reveals why his 'Covid' bronze medal at the Olympics is dearest to him

Olympic champion has opened up about why his bronze medal in the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics holds a unique place in his heart.

While many may see it as an underwhelming performance in one of his signature events, Lyles views it as a testament to his resilience

Lyles arrived at the Paris Olympics with sky-high expectations, particularly in the 200m, a race that had earned him global acclaim

However, his triumph came first in the 100m final, an event where he wasn’t as much as clear favorite like in the 200m

In a nail-biting finish, Lyles clocked 9.79 seconds, narrowly edging out Jamaica’s who also posted 9.79, while of the US took third with 9.81 seconds

Former American sprinter Justin Gatlin has hailed Noah Lyles' recent victory against YouTube sensation IShowSpeed as a win for the sport of track and field after massive payday.

This victory established, Lyles as one of the standout performers of the Games and set the stage for the 200m final

With momentum on his side, he was the heavy favorite to clinch the gold in his marquee event

But things took an unexpected turn in the 200m final as Lyles clocked 19.70 seconds, placing third behind compatriot (19.62) and Botswana’s who stormed to victory with a time of 19.46 seconds.

Fans were left stunned, wondering what had gone wrong before it was later revealed that Lyles had competed while battling COVID-19.

Speaking about the experience recently, Lyles shared the physical toll it took on him.

“I just get a strong pain in my chest, and it literally feels like my muscles are ripping. I had to go to the ground because I couldn’t breathe,” he recalled.

Despite falling short of expectations, Lyles holds his bronze medal in the 200m closer to his heart than many of his victories.

“The race didn’t go as planned, but that bronze medal encapsulates my childhood in that one medal,” he explained.

Athletics couple Noah Lyles and his fiancé Junelle Bromfield were among the star attractions on the red carpet when they graced the GQ Men of the Year 2024 party in Los Angeles.

Drawing a parallel between his struggles growing up and the adversity he faced during the race, Lyles added, “The challenge I had to go through as a young kid is the same fight I had to go through as an adult. I thought, ‘I got third. I got third with COVID.’”

For Lyles, the 200m bronze medal isn’t just a symbol of athletic achievement, it’s a reminder of his resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.