Noah Lyles Criticized For Paris Partying After COVID Spell

American sprinter Noah Lyles is facing backlash after being spotted out partying in Paris days after his COVID-19 diagnosis.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games ended Sunday (Aug. 11). Still, track superstar Noah Lyles had social media buzzing after he was spotted on video partying days after revealing he was dealing with COVID-19. Lyles, who won the men’s 100 meter, was spotted on video at L’Arc nightclub hours after the closing ceremonies dancing while draped in an American flag to a Pop Smoke song. The footage surprised many who expressed frustration. Lyles’ diagnosis was revealed after he collapsed on the track after the 200 meter men’s final on Thursday evening, leading to him having to be wheeled out in a wheelchair.

Lyles would later share a picture of a negative COVID test in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday (Aug. 10), with the caption, “Thank God, I am Covid free.” Lyles would capture bronze in the 200 meter, which he has proven to be dominant in past track and field competitions, but he would pull out of the men’s 4×100 relay final. The U.S. team would later be disqualified for an invalid baton exchange, extending their medal drought – the team hasn’t won gold since the 2000 Sydney Games, and last medaled in 2004 with a silver at the Athens Games.

The 27-year-old confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 that Tuesday beforehand, which meant that he ran the 100 meter while sick. He wanted to run despite the diagnosis, and permission was granted by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. In an interview with the Associated Press that day, Lyles spoke about his thoughts on being diagnosed, saying that he was more concerned about the severe effects of the virus than his temperature (he suffers from asthma), which shot up to 102 degrees, according to his coach Lance Bauman.

Lyles denied that, saying the highest it reached was 99 degrees. “Then asthma joining in on that and making it even worse, that was our worst fear,” he said. “We were back in the medical bay underneath the track. Their biggest concern was me getting bronchitis because we didn’t want something to get infected and the asthma really starts to take form. We really had to jump on top of that.”