"Your antics and talent are why they watched your race"- Carl Lewis lauds Noah Lyles for his efforts despite being afflicted with COVID at Paris 2024

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Aug 09, 2024 07:21 GMT

Carl Lewis has openly come out in the support of Noah Lyles. The 27-year-old, who was aiming for the elusive Olympic double with another gold medal in men's 200m, could manage only a bronze medal in the discipline.

However, it was revealed later that he ran this race despite contracting COVID-19. Gold medal winner Letsile Tebogo and Kenny Bednarek both finished ahead of him in the race.

Even as people were divided over Lyles' decision to participate in the race, Carl Lewis posted a long thread on his X account in the latter's support. Lewis wrote, [via @Carl_Lewis on X],

"@LylesNoah, it may be a tough time in your life now, but your antics and talent are why they watched your race. There are very few global superstars in this sport, and the masses benefit from the few."

Lyles revealed tested positive for COVID-19 but he ran the finals of 200m two days later, clocking 19.7 seconds as Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Kenneth 'Kenny' Bednarek of USA raced ahead of him to win the gold medal and the silver medal respectively.

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Carl Lewis on Noah Lyles' true potential

Noah Lyles in action in the men's 200m event at Paris Olympics [Image Source : Getty]

Carl Lewis has been vocal on Noah Lyles' potential long before the Paris Olympics even started. When the American sprinter was subjected to criticism, including allegations of favoritism earlier this year, Lewis came out strongly against it, asking for people to give some leeway to Lyles.

He also mentioned about it in an interview to the journalists in May 2024, asking Noah Lyles to ignore the barrage of criticism and focus on his targets as set.

When Noah Lyles won the gold medal in 100m, Carl Lewis immediately congratulated him with the following tweet [via @Carl_Lewis on X],

"Congratulations @LylesNoah. You've been the best sprinter all year."

Lewis also took a subtle jibe at those who criticize Noah Lyles for his attitude. He wrote further in his thread,

"So if you think it is easy to put yourself out there not knowing what the outcome will be, then do it. Until then, support our great athletes who have the courage to do that and think about how easy it is to ride to just stay quiet and win."

Carl Lewis also wrote,

"I congratulate all of the great champions in our sport. But I admire the leaders who are willing to make a difference and deal with the consequences. That's the hard thing to do."

With the bronze medal in 200m, Lyles missed the chance to achieved the first golden double for USA since Carl Lewis achieved it last at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. However, he did end a two-decade-old gold drought in the men's 100m, by edging out Kishane Thompson of Jamaica in the photo finish.