Though the Paris 2024 Olympics concluded on Sunday, Olympic track and field athlete Noah Lyles has been trending for the wrong reasons. It was discovered that Lyles contracted COVID two days before the 200-meter Olympic final race. Despite his diagnosis, Lyles chose to compete in the race. In an interview with People Magazine, he affirmed that, “As long as I knew that I was allowed to, I was gonna tackle it.” This led to a mixed response on social media, with some fans praising Lyles for his resilience while others condemned him for being selfish. Fans were even more enraged when Lyles was spotted partying on August 11, despite posting a negative COVID test the day before. The athlete’s recent decisions have led to continued discussion about public health systems at the Olympics and beyond, and the dangers of Long COVID.
Positive Fan Reactions
One TikTok user expressed that Lyles winning bronze with COVID might be more impressive than the gold, a sentiment many fans agree with. As the Olympic favorite to win gold for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, Lyles was under intense pressure to deliver. His larger-than-life personality and confidence have rubbed some people the wrong way, so he was expected to prove his abilities in this year’s games. After barely winning the 100-meter Olympic final, there was even greater pressure to dominate the 200-meter final. Despite placing third at the 200-meter final and being dragged in a wheelchair afterward due to COVID, some fans saw this as an inspirational moment. The fact that he is also asthmatic but somehow managed to finish the race is a miracle that made fans place him on a higher pedestal.
Another Twitter user expressed that people who take two weeks off work after a COVID diagnosis should not be laughing at Lyles. Some affirmed that there are no excuses once you get on the track and every athlete is bringing their best game. This means no one wants to hear sad stories about why athletes cannot perform, even if it pertains to their health. But this highlights the toxic culture of athletes always being expected to perform, and fan participation in this culture is why Noah was still praised by some as a true Olympian who did not back down from a fight. Athletes who compete while in pain are congratulated for their bravery because they are quite literally risking their health for victory.
The lack of preventative measures once Lyles was aware he tested positive for COVID was the main point of contention for many Olympic viewers. Some believed he should not have been on the track in the first place, while others preferred that he at least informed his fellow competitors so they could protect themselves. The fact that he hugged fellow athletes at the end of the race, including the 200-meter Olympic winner Letslie Tebogo, was upsetting to many fans. While some found it irresponsible and selfish, it led to other fans expressing that Lyles was not the only Olympic athlete who competed with COVID — he just happened to receive the most backlash due to his publicity. This leads to a bigger question about the lack of public health infrastructure at the Paris Olympics.
Public Health and Long COVID
The lack of public health systems being implemented at the 2024 Paris Olympics resulted in numerous Olympians competing despite contracting the COVID virus. It is a clear example of how not to manage health at an Olympic event. Doctors believe that the decision to compete despite having COVID should not be determined by the athletes because their motive will often trump their health. Just as the 2020 Olympics, where strict measures were implemented, Paris should not have allowed athletes with COVID to participate. Instead, quarantining to prevent exposure to others should have always been the protocol. Doctors have also spoken out about how the effects of Long COVID can seriously jeopardize Lyles’ career.
The lack of masking in public spaces and leniency from health organizations in the US has led people to forget that COVID is still a life-threatening disease. Long COVID is when recurring symptoms such as cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and psychological problems happen weeks after a person contracts COVID. These symptoms impact people differently and can last for weeks, months, or years, based on the severity of Long COVID. Some people have been left disabled with reports of being unable to complete daily functions such as walking short distances, which impacts their ability to return to work or school altogether. Even though underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma put people at risk for Long COVID, most people who contract it initially have a mild acute version of COVID.
Since nobody is immune to Long COVID, it is important to take necessary prevention measures despite the systemic failure of our health organizations. Nassau County in New York recently passed a mask ban bill that would prevent facial coverings unless religious or health exemptions are made. This is a classic example of public health failure which will replicate throughout the entire country. With systemic failures not only at the Olympics but within our government, it is our responsibility to care for our own health, normalizing masking in public settings and testing regularly for COVID. Otherwise, we risk the health of disabled people while simultaneously risking disabling ourselves in the process.
What's Your Reaction?
