Noah Lyles competed in the 200 meters with COVID and finished third. What is known about his illness

SAINT-DENIS, France —

Noah Lyles said he tested positive for COVID two days before Thursday, when he finished third in the 200-meter final at the Paris Olympics.

Lyles says he quickly went into quarantine after testing positive Tuesday morning. He competed in the 200-meter semifinal on Wednesday, finishing second. Lyles’ coach said afterward that the sprinter was “doing fine.”

Lyles, who usually takes advantage of the opportunity to speak, did not speak to reporters after the semifinal.

The 100-meter champion said he was feeling better as the 200-meter final approached. He estimated he was feeling between 90 and 95 percent fit when the starting gun went off.

“I still wanted to race,” he said after Thursday night’s race. “They said it was possible.”

In the 200, Lyles trailed the champion, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, heading into the home stretch, which is usually where the American makes a trademark closing finish that has always been the highlight of his career. Before this week, he had not lost at this distance since his third-place finish in Tokyo three years ago.

This time, Lyles couldn’t close. Just a desperate push to the line and then a collapse on the purple track.

“To be honest, I knew that if I wanted to come here and win, I had to give everything I had from the start,” he said. “I didn’t have time to save energy. So that was the strategy for today.”

After crossing the finish line in third place for the second consecutive time at the Olympics, Lyles fell backward and writhed on the ground trying to catch his breath. He knelt down and remained there for nearly 30 seconds before getting up, asking for water and making his way to his wheelchair.

USA Track and Field issued a statement saying it had coordinated with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and adhered to all Olympic and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

“After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah has elected to compete tonight,” the statement said. “We respect his decision and will continue to closely monitor his condition.”

Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, a positive COVID test would have put an athlete into immediate isolation, forcing them into a special hotel with no contact with other Olympic participants. Even in 2022, at the Winter Games in China, daily testing and strict isolation measures were automatic. COVID rules have changed in much of society, including sports, school and work. USATF says they followed current policies.

France, which once had strict COVID restrictions, no longer has rules for people with the virus, only recommendations for those who test positive to isolate themselves.