Team USA runner Noah Lyles believes his Olympics are over after COVID diagnosis

United States track star Noah Lyles on Thursday said he believes his Olympics this year are over now that he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.

The Paris Olympics are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to the World Health Organization, which claimed that 40 Olympians had tested positive for the virus as of Tuesday. 

Lyles, who finished third in Thursday's 200-meter race and first in Sunday's 100-meter event, said he tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday but that he decided to run in races on Wednesday and Thursday anyways. 

“I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics," Lyles wrote on Instagram on Thursday night, per CNN. "It is not the Olympic I dreamed of but it has left me with so much Joy in my heart. I hope everyone enjoyed the show. Whether you were rooting for me or against me, you have to admit you watched, didn’t you?

Lyles said that he has followed all the Olympic guidelines for testing positive, including going into quarantine and hydrating when not racing.

“We just took it day-by-day trying to hydrate as much, quarantined off. I definitely say that it’s taken its toll for sure,” he wrote. “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.”

Lyles finished his race behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and his Team USA teammate Kenneth Bednarek, who finished in first and second. Lyle's placing was unexpected for his signature event, when he was unable to get the speed burst that he was known for in the race's final stretch.

After the race was finished, Lyles laid down in the middle of the track and was helped off the field by medical personnel. 

“I’ve had better days, but I’m walking around again,” Lyles told reporters after the race. “I was quite light-headed after that race. Shortness of breath, chest pain, but after a while, I could catch my breath and get my wits about me. I’m a lot better now.”

Kate Hartman, the chief external affairs officer for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the committee supported Lyles' decision to compete in the Games.

“Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete," Hartman told CNN. "After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.”

Current U.S. guidelines for the virus, which caused a global pandemic only four years ago, instructs people to stay home until they are fever-free without fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours, and the person's symptoms have been improving for 24 hours. The CDC also instructs that people should then wear a mask around others for the next five days.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.