PARIS (Gray News) - American sprinter Noah Lyles was diagnosed with COVID two days ago, he told NBC in an interview.

He then ran the men’s 200m final on Thursday and took the bronze medal.

Lyles, who won the gold medal in the men’s 100m over the weekend, appeared out of breath after the 200m race and was taken off the track in a wheelchair.

Shortly after the race, in a mask, Lyles told NBC that he woke up around 5 a.m. Tuesday feeling “really horrible” and knew it was more than just exhaustion.

He was tested for COVID and it came back positive.

“My first thought was not to panic,” Lyles said.

He chose to race in the men’s 200m, winning bronze, but said his Olympic journey in Paris is most likely over.

Lyles is expected to run with Team USA in a relay, but he seemed to be less than hopeful that he will be able to race.

“It’s taken it’s toll for sure; I’ve never been more proud of myself for being able to come out here and get a bronze medal,” he said.

Lyles was favorited to win the men’s 200m final after the photo-finish of him winning gold in the men’s 100m.

Unfortunately for Lyles, the race belonged to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who won in 19.46 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in history, but .15 slower than Lyles’ top time.

American Kenny Bednarek finished in 19.62 for his second straight silver.

Lyles ran in 19.70 for bronze.

It’s the second straight Olympics the virus has played a major role in Lyles’ trip to the Games. He also won the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, and he has said the empty stands and the year-long delay before the Games led to depression that hampered his performance and inspired his road to Paris.

The first sign something might be wrong came a night earlier when Lyles finished second in a lackluster 200m semifinal, then left the track without talking to reporters to head to the medical tent. It was abnormal for the athlete who typically loves the spotlight.

His coach said he was fine.

It became clear he was not fine when Tebogo and Bednarek reached the curve in the final and Lyles couldn’t beat them.

Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.