2024 Olympics: Runner Noah Lyles Says "This Will Be the End" of His Competing After COVID Diagnosis
Noah Lyles is bidding farewell to the 2024 Olympics.
The COVID Team USA track star shared the update shortly after taking home the bronze medal in the men's 200-meter final with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
"I want to thank everyone for the supportive messages," Noah shared on Instagram Aug. 8. "I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics. It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much Joy in my heart."
Noah also sent congratulations to fellow Olympians Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Team USA's Kenny Bednarek who picked up the gold and silver medals during the race, respectively. And while he is disappointed in having to bow out of the games, he's still thankful to everyone who tuned in to watch him.
"I hope everyone enjoyed the show," he continued. "Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn't you?"
The 27-year-old—who previously won gold in the men's 100-meter race—had a dramatic finish in the 200-meter final as he dropped to the track and appeared to be gasping for air before exiting the race in a wheelchair.
Following the intense moment, his mother Keisha Cane Bishop explained that the issues stemmed from Noah's COVID-19 diagnosis, which Noah also confirmed.
"I woke up early, about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning," Noah told NBC Sports, "and I was just feeling really horrible and I knew it was more than just being sore from the 100. Woke up the doctors and we tested, and unfortunately it came up that it was positive for COVID."
Noah shared that he tried not to panic and reminded himself that he'd run in worse conditions.
"We just took it day by day," he said, "trying to hydrate, quarantined off, and I can definitely say it's taken its toll for sure. But I've never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here."
Noah was set to compete Aug. 9 as part of the men's 4x100-meter relay, but shortly after his 200-meter race, he wasn't doubtful he would be up for it, saying it might be best to leave the relay in the hands of Christian Coleman, Courtney Lindsey, Kyree King and Fred Kerley.
"I'm feeling more on the side of letting Team USA do their thing," he said. "They've proven with great certainty that they can handle it without me. And if that's the case, coming off today, I'm perfectly fine saying, 'Hey, you guys have more than enough speed to be able to get the gold medal.'"
To see more emotional moments from the 2024 Paris Olympics, keep reading.
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Team USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall embraces her husband and Paralympic athlete Hunter Woodhall after winning the women's long jump final.
Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez of Team Spain yell in celebration after the men's canoe double 500m final.
Spain's Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin pop champagne to celebrate their gold medals.
Kelland O'Brien of Team Australia is emotional after his team, also including Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn, won gold. The Austalian cyclists set a new world record with 3:40.730.
TEAM USA's Gabby Thomas snaps a selfie with her partner Spencer McManes after winning gold in the women's 200m final.
Cole Hocker of Team USA celebrates after winning the gold for the men's 1500m. Hocker won by .14 seconds.
Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis celebrates after setting a new world record in the men's pole vault.
An Se-young of Korea celebrates after defeating He Bingjiao of China 2-0 in their match.
Johanne Defay hugs Simon Paillard, her husband and coach, after winning bronze for France.
Simone Biles hugs an emotional Jordan Chiles after winning bronze for the women's floor routine final, marking Chiles' first individual Olympic medal.
Britain's Bryony Page is ecsatic after winning gold for the women's trampoline final in gymnastics.
Team Czechia's Michal Cupr, Jiri Beran, Jakub Jurka, Martin Rubes celebrate after defeating France for the men's bronze medal.
USA gymnast Simone Biles beams after winning gold in the women's all-around final, sporting her "GOAT" necklace.
Great Britain's Andy Murray—who announced his retirement before the Paris Games—tearfully bids farewell to the crowd after being eliminated alongside Dan Evans in the men's doubles.
Tomokazu Harimoto of Team Japan lets off some steam during his match against China's Fan Zhendong.
Men's 200m backstroke silver medalist Apostolos Christou of Greece gets emotional while standing on the podium.
Spanish tennis Carlos Alcaraz lets out a victorious scream after defeating Tommy Paul of Team USA in men's single.
Great Britain's bronze medalists Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson share a raw moment after the women's synchronized 10m platform diving final.
Korbin Albert gets emotional after scoring a goal in the women's soccer game.
Team Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem celebrates her gold medal in the Women's 100m Freestyle Final.
Team USA's Katie Ledecky reacts to winning gold in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final.
French swimmer Anastasiia Kirpichnikova cries tears of joy after seeing her silver medal-winning time in women's 1500m freestyle event.
Serbia's Nemanja Majdov (L) and Greece's Theodoros Tselidis (R) share a moment after their round in the men's 90kg round of 16 in judo. Tselildis, who beat Majdov, later won the bronze medal.
Manon Apithy-Brunet (L) kisses her husband France's Bolade Apithy after his team beat Egypt.
Gold medalist Alex Yee of Team Great Britain and silver medalist Hayden Wilde of Team New Zealand share a subtle celebratory moment after crossing the finish line.
Team New Zealand leaps for joy after beating Canada in the Women's Rugby Sevens Gold medal match.
Agustina Gorzelany of Team Argentina celebrates her team's first goal in a match against Spain. Argentina ended up winning the match 2-1.
Team Guatemala's Adriana Ruano Oliva gets emotional after realizing she's won the gold medal—her country's very first—in the shooting trap women's final.
Andy Murray and Dan Evans of Great Britain embrace in celebration after besting Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Team Belgium in Men's Doubles second round match.
Great Britain's Tom Dean celebrates, along with fellow teammates, after his win in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.