Justin Gatlin Won’t Blame Noah Lyles for Racing with COVID: ‘An Olympic Dream’

Justin Gatlin isn’t criticizing Noah Lyles for competing in the Olympics while positive for COVID-19. Speaking to TMZ Sports, Gatlin explained that the chance to earn a medal outweighed other risks for Lyles.

Many in the sports community disagreed, arguing that the American athlete endangered fellow competitors by running the 200-meter final in Paris on Thursday with coronavirus symptoms.

However, Gatlin—a USA track legend—said he would have done the same thing. “This is an Olympic dream you have,” he remarked.

Gatlin, who is 42, did not downplay the severity of the disease, noting, “I’ve had a family member who has passed from COVID.” He pointed out that medical advancements have reduced many of the potential issues.

“This is something that I think with Noah,” Justin explained, “nothing was going to stop him from getting to that starting line and trying to give this all his best.”

Gatlin emphasized the importance of the Olympics, which only occur every four years, suggesting that Lyles didn’t have much of a choice. “This is not like the NBA Finals where it happens every year,” he said. “Or the Super Bowl where it happens every year. It’s never a, ‘Well, you’ll get ’em next time!'”

Despite his ailment, Lyles won the bronze in the 200-meter event. He chose to sit out Team USA’s run in the 4×100 event on Friday to recover. Without him, the squad failed to win. Gatlin believes the race’s outcome could’ve been different with just a few minor adjustments, even without Lyles.