Noah Lyles has faced criticism for what some have described as a “classless” reaction after he finished third in the men’s 200m final at the Summer Olympics on Thursday afternoon.
The 27-year-old sprinter, who had previously won the gold medal in the 100m final, was considered a strong contender for the 200m race. Despite his usual prowess in this event, Lyles fell short and secured the bronze medal, finishing behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and his fellow American Kenny Bednarek.
Following the race, Lyles appeared to struggle, going to the ground and calling for medical assistance. This led to accusations from some social media users who suggested he might be “faking” an injury, labeling his behavior as “classless.”
One commenter criticized Lyles by stating, “Lyles I thought you were him. Faking injury after seeing that you can’t reach Tebogo stinks,” while another added, “Noah Lyles getting bronze then faking a chest injury is grade A TV.” Some even called his actions “embarrassing.”
Despite these accusations, there might be a legitimate concern behind Lyles’ condition. The sprinter had been seen wearing a mask before his semifinal race on Wednesday, where he finished second with a time of 20.08 seconds, trailing only Tebogo. Given Lyles’ history of severe asthma, some speculated that he might have been struggling with an illness as he prepared for the final.
While Lyles was well enough to compete, he was unable to secure the gold medal. He acknowledged Tebogo’s strength, noting, “I knew Tebogo was going to be dangerous. He’s got great 400-meter strength and 100-meter speed. I’m not totally shocked by this, but make no mistake, this is a major upset. Congrats to Tebogo and his country of Botswana. That country is rejoicing and rightfully so.”
Lyles, who now holds three Olympic medals—one gold and one bronze from the 2024 Paris Games and a bronze from the 2020 Tokyo Games—still has the opportunity to add to his tally. He is scheduled to compete in the men’s 4×100 relay in Paris on Friday. However, there is a possibility he may not participate if he is feeling unwell.
On Thursday afternoon, Lyles was seen leaving the arena in a wheelchair, raising concerns about his condition following the disappointing outcome in the 200m final. Fans and observers are hopeful that his situation will improve and that he will be able to compete in future events.
