Hello everyone, the world of Olympic track and field was hit with a bit of drama this week as Kenny Bednarek, fresh off his silver medal in the 200m final, had some interesting things to say about his rival Noah Lyles. Lyles, who finished third in the same race, later revealed that he had been battling Covid during the event, sparking quite a conversation in the post-race press conference.
Now, you might think this revelation would have had some impact on Bednarek, but his reaction was surprisingly nonchalant. When asked if he was concerned about Lyles running with the virus, Bednarek shrugged it off, saying, “I don’t know, I don’t care.”
He went on to explain that he doesn’t view such things as a big deal. “If I get sick, I’ll be fine, if he gets sick, it’s a cold,” Bednarek said, showing a level of confidence in his own health and preparedness that some might find refreshing, if not a bit cavalier.
Despite the risk, Bednarek didn’t hesitate to embrace his teammate, saying, “I give him a hug regardless of if he’s sick or not. I don’t care about those things.” His carefree attitude extended to the entire Olympic Village, where he admitted he’s been “minding [his] own business” and wasn’t too concerned about whether Covid was spreading among the athletes.
Meanwhile, Lyles himself was far from regretful about his decision to compete, even though he acknowledged the risk of spreading the virus.
In an interview with NBC, Lyles described waking up on Tuesday morning feeling terrible, but he was determined not to panic. He managed to push through the symptoms, hydrate, and do everything he could to prepare for the race, ultimately proud of his bronze medal finish.
When asked if he ever thought about withdrawing, Lyles was emphatic: “No. No. We just said we were going to quarantine as much as possible and not try and pass it on.” His approach to keeping his diagnosis under wraps was strategic—he didn’t want to give his competitors any psychological advantage. “Why would you give them an edge?” he reasoned.
Interestingly, there are no longer any mandatory Covid withdrawal rules in place at the Paris Olympics, so Lyles technically did nothing against the guidelines. However, his revelation did stir the pot, especially considering the precautions—or lack thereof—taken to prevent the virus from spreading.
So, as the dust settles on the track, it’s clear that both Bednarek and Lyles have their own ways of handling a situation that, just a few years ago, would have caused an entirely different level of concern.
For now, though, the focus remains on their incredible performances, with Bednarek’s silver and Lyles’ bronze adding to their already impressive careers.
