The eyes of the world stopped again for a few seconds. The focus was on Paris 2024 athletics and specifically on Noah Lyleswho was looking to rewrite his name in Olympic history. He intended to clear up doubts about his status as the fastest man on the planetbut suffered after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Botswana’s Letwsile Tebogo charged forward and took the gold medal in the 200-meter dash.
The African put in a solid race and won with ease, earning the first gold medal in Botswana’s history. He completed the competition in a spectacular time of 19.46. Thus, he surpassed the Americans Kenneth Bednarek, who posted a time of 19.62, while the podium was closed by Lyles, with 19.70.
The Gainesville native was trying to reclaim the sprint crown for the United States, just as he did in the 100-meter dash. He had already won the most traditional event in athletics over Kishane Thompson, by just five thousandths of a second. It was a valuable victory, since Athens 2004 had not seen his country win the gold medal (Justin Gatilin). The situation was the same in the 200m (Shawn Crawford), but the Americans were on the verge of breaking the curse.
At the end of the race, Lyles threw himself to the ground, visibly exhausted and breathless. Medical assistance quickly arrived to check him. The information was confirmed by the American delegation after the race. The athlete, who had been seen wearing a mask at the Stade de France, was diagnosed with Covid-19 two days before the final.
After the race, Lyles recounted the problems he experienced while competing with Covid.“I have COVID. I tested positive around five o’clock. Tuesday morning“I woke up in the middle of the night with chills, pain and a sore throat,” the athlete said.It definitely affected my performance, I had to take a lot of breaks.“I coughed during the night, I am more than proud to have been able to get a bronze medal because I was sick with COVID,” he added.
Tebogo, 21, writes his own story and that of his country. In her debut at the five-ring event, she won the first gold medal in the history of Botswana, an African country with just over 2.5 million inhabitants that made its debut at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. After the competition, he looked up at the sky with emotion, probably thinking of his mother, who had died two months before his achievement.
The story continues below
More about Olympics
Lyles himself congratulated him on his social networks: “Letsile Tebogo, congratulations. I know you had a very tough year off the track and despite that you have overcome everything.”
Lyles receives medical attention after winning bronze. Photo: REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier.
Lyles had already won the 100-meter dash, so he reached the final of the 200, his favorite event, as the top candidate.It is the race he has dominated the most, but it has not been as successful as he had hoped. It was of no use having won the last three World Championships. In fact, in the previous one, held in Budapest, Hungary, she managed to win triple gold, something she also wanted to repeat in Paris.
The American had the same result as in Tokyo 2020: a bronzeBednarek, who finished seventh in the most traditional event in athletics, experienced a similar situation, having also won silver in Japan. The only thing that changed from the podium at the last Games was the gold medal.
Tebogo, meanwhile, improved on his performance in the 100-meter dash, where he finished sixth.Now, he has engraved his name in the history of the Olympic Games and secured a place in the eternal glory of his country.
Lyles’ final chapter at Paris 2024 is in doubt. The last event I had planned to run in was the men’s 4×100 relay.a competition that will not feature Jamaica in its final for the first time in 20 years. The relay will take place this Friday, August 9, however, The American will hardly be able to compete after the confirmation of his positive test for Covid-19.
