'Everything just went spiraling out'—  Noah Lyles' fiancé Junelle Bromfield opens up on his COVID-19 revelation at Paris Olympics

'Everything just went spiraling out'— Noah Lyles' fiancé Junelle Bromfield opens up on his COVID-19 revelation at Paris Olympics

Festus Chuma 20:00 - 18.10.2024

Noah Lyles' fiancé Junelle Bromfield has opened up about his COVID-19 diagnosis during the Paris Olympics and its impact.

Noah Lyles' fiancé Junelle Bromfield has revealed the emotional moment she found out the American sprinter had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Paris Olympics, just hours before he was set to compete in the men's 200m finals.

In an open and heartfelt discussion, Bromfield shared how the diagnosis impacted Lyles’ performance in what was supposed to be one of the biggest races of his career.

Bromfield, herself a Jamaican athlete, opened up about the moment she received a message from Lyles informing her of the shocking news.

With Lyles already being one of the top prospects for the 200m crown after an incredible unbeaten streak in the event for three years, the sudden diagnosis came as a devastating blow.

“He texts me, ‘I have COVID,’ and everything just went spiraling out,” Bromfield shared during her appearance in Netflix's hit docu-series Sprint, which follows the lives of multiple star athletes competing for gold in Paris.

The news immediately raised concerns not just for his health but for the emotional and physical toll it would take on Lyles, who had already secured gold in the 100m event with a narrow victory.

Lyles decided to compete in the 200m finals despite his diagnosis. He was determined to uphold his reputation and not let his rivals sense any weakness.

However, Bromfield described how difficult the night leading up to the race was for him.

“Junelle said I was coughing through the night last night. I thought I had a good sleep but she said she had to keep moving me through the night to make sure I would stop coughing,” Lyles explained in the documentary, shedding light on how his condition worsened as he approached the biggest race of the season.

Despite battling the virus, Lyles displayed remarkable courage and grit, ultimately finishing in third place to secure a bronze medal in the 200m.

However, his exhaustion was evident as he was seen struggling after crossing the finish line.

He was later helped by authorities, even being transported in a wheelchair underscoring how severely COVID had impacted him physically.

Following the race, the USATF (USA Track & Field) confirmed Lyles’ positive COVID test, though he had chosen to keep it private until after his race.

Lyles ultimately decided to withdraw from the men's 4x100m relay, choosing to prioritize his health as the fatigue from COVID lingered.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the American sprinter concluded his Paris Olympics campaign with two medals—gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m—cementing his place as one of the most resilient athletes on the global stage.

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