Noah Lyles has refused to apologise after racing in the men's 200m at the Paris Olympics last night - despite testing positive for coronavirus.
The 27-year-old had gone into the event as the favourite to claim gold, having won the 100m earlier in the week.
Lyles wasn't his usual self on Thursday, however, with the Team USA star finishing behind compatriot Kenny Bednarek and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.
The American needed to be taken away in a wheelchair after the race but Lyles, speaking to NBC, insists he has no regrets about competing.
Noah Lyles has refused to apologise after racing in the men's 200m at the Paris Olympics last night - despite testing positive for coronavirus
REUTERS
"I woke up early about 5am Tuesday morning, feeling really horrible," he said after his hopes of a golden Olympic double went up in smoke.
"I knew it was more than being sore from the 100.
"My first thought was not to panic, I've ben in worse situations, I've been in worse conditions.
"I took it day by day, tried to hydrate as much. It would say it has taken its toll, for sure, but I have never been more proud of myself coming out here and getting a bronze."
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When asked specifically if he regrets racing, he added: "No, no. We just said we were going to quarantine as much as possible and not try and pass it on."
Lyles' Olympics isn't over just yet.
He's set to take part in the 4x100m relay on Friday as he looks to add to his medal haul.
Yet Lyles is unsure if he'll be able to take part in that event. He said: "At the moment I don't know, I'm feeling more on the side of letting Team USA do their thing.
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"They have proven they can handle it without me."
While Lyles' decision to race has sparked controversy, there are no rules that prevent athletes with Covid from taking part at the games.
Lyles admits other athletes were kept in the dark over the virus, insisting Team USA didn't want to give any of their rivals 'an edge'.
"We tried to keep it close to our chest. The medical staff, my coach and my mum knew," he admitted.
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Noah Lyles appeared to be struggling after winning bronze at the Olympics on Thursday night
REUTERS
"We didn’t want everybody to go into a panic.
"We wanted to be able to compete. We wanted to be able to make it discreet as possible and you don’t want to tell your competitors you are sick.
"Why would you give them an edge?"
Gold medal winner Tebogo, meanwhile, paid tribute to his mother Seratiwa, who died in May following a brief illness.
Noah Lyles has added a bronze medal to his Olympic gold out in Paris
REUTERS
He held up his spikes, displaying her date of birth, after the crowning moment of his career.
Tebogo said: "It's basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field.
"To take her [with me], it gives me a lot of motivation. She's watching up there, and she's really, really happy."
