Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles feels testing positive for COVID-19 "definitely" affected his performance in Thursday's 200m final, as he was denied a sprint double by Letsile Tobego.

Lyles took gold in Sunday's 100m showpiece by five-thousandths of a second and had the chance to become the first man to win a 100m and 200m double at a single Olympics since Usain Bolt in 2016. 

However, he finished third behind Botswana's Tobego and fellow Team USA star Kenneth Bednarek, managing a time of 19.70 seconds at the Stade de France.

Tobego managed a 19.46 as he became Botswana's first Olympic gold medallist in any sport, handing his country just their third Olympic medal of any description.

Lyles appeared lethargic and was wheeled away from the track in a chair after the race, as rumours swirled regarding his health.

US Track and Field subsequently confirmed he had competed despite testing positive for COVID-19, and Lyles was proud of the way he fought through illness to take bronze.

"I do have Covid. I tested positive around 5am on Tuesday morning," Lyles told reporters after the race.

"I woke up in the middle of the night feeling real chills, aching, sore throat, and those were a lot of the symptoms I've had right before getting Covid.

"It definitely affected my performance. I've had to take a lot of breaks… I was coughing through the night.

"I'm more proud of myself than anything, coming out here to get a bronze with Covid. I've had better days, but I'm walking around again. I was quite light-headed after that race.

"Shortness of breath, chest pain, but after a while I could catch my breath and get my wits about me. I'm a lot better now."

Grenada’s two-time World Championship javelin gold medallist Anderson Peters added the Paris Olympic Games bronze medal to his accolades after placing third in a pulsating final at the Stade de France on Thursday.

Anderson, who has displayed superb form from the preliminary round of the event, launched the instrument to a best mark of 88.54m on his fourth attempt to claw his way back onto the podium.

The 26-year-old was at one point in the gold medal position after throwing 87.87m on his second attempt. This was after another Caribbean stalwart, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, launched the javelin to a season’s best 86.16m to set the tone for a humdinger of a finals.

Walcott was later relegated to seventh, as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem opened daylight on competitors with a massive Olympic Record of 92.97m to win the event. Nadeem won ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra (89.45m), last year’s World Champion and 2020 Olympic Champion.

Anderson’s bronze medal is the Spice Isles second of the global multi-sport showpiece, following Lindon Victor's decathlon bronze.

An emotional Letsile Tebogo dedicated his gold medal in the men's 200m at the Paris Olympics to his late mother after stunning his rivals at the Stade de France.

Noah Lyles, who won 100m gold on Sunday, entered Thursday's final as the clear favourite but could only manage a bronze medal, with US Track and Field subsequently revealing he was suffering from COVID-19.

Fellow American Kenny Bednarek took silver, with Tebogo's time of 19.46 seconds seeing him become Botswana's first Olympic gold medallist in any sport.

They previously won bronze in the men's 4 x 400 relay at the Tokyo Games three years ago, while Nijel Amos took silver in the men's 800m at London 2012.

Tebogo's triumph came just three months after his mother Seratiwa passed away following a brief illness.

After the race, Tebogo held up his spikes to the cameras to display a message detailing his mother's date of birth, before dedicating his victory to her.

"It's basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field," Tebogo told reporters.

"To take her with me, it gives me a lot of motivation. She's watching up there, and she's really, really happy."

Grant Holloway stormed to the gold medal in the 110m hurdles final at the Paris Olympics, having missed out by five hundredths of a second in Tokyo three years ago.

Holloway was edged out by Jamaica's Hansle Parchment at the delayed 2020 Games but travelled to France having won three straight World Championship golds.

He flew out of the blocks in Thursday's final at the Stade de France, taking the crown with a time of 12.99 seconds.

Fellow American Daniel Roberts claimed silver with a time of 13.09, with Jamaica's Rasheed Broadbell taking bronze.

Holloway sprinted to the bell following his triumph before declaring: "I've made it. I've done it. I am the Olympic champion."

The 26-year-old had previously won gold at the World Indoor Championships and the Diamond League, in addition to his triumphs at the 2019, 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

Jamaica’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rasheed Broadbell can now add Olympic medallist to his resume after securing bronze in the final of the Men’s 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Broadbell recovered from a shaky start to power through the field on the way to be shoulder-to-shoulder with American Daniel Roberts heading into the final hurdle.

Roberts, who miraculously stayed on his feet after clipping a series of hurdles in the middle of his race, held his nerve to produce a dive across the line to just hold off Broadbell and take the silver medal.

Both Roberts and Broadbell were credited with the same time (13.09) with Roberts finishing three thousandths of a second ahead (13.085 to 13.088).

American reigning two-time World champion Grant Holloway ran 12.99 to claim his first Olympic title and continue his dominance on the event.

Spain’s Enrique Llopis ran 13.20 in fourth while Japan’s Rachid Muratake ran 13.21 in fifth. American Freddie Crittenden ran 13.32 in sixth while Jamaica Orlando Bennett and defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment were seventh and eighth with 13.34 and 13.39, respectively.

Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith, on her Olympic Games debut, finished eighth in the women’s long jump final as American Tara Davis-Woodhall struck gold at the Stade de France on Thursday.

Smith, who also contested the women’s triple jump final earlier at the multi-sport showpiece, started well with an opening leap of 6.66m but was unable to improve for the remainder of the competition.

Meanwhile, Davis-Woodhall, who has been in good form all season, was on song on the big stage, as she cut the stand at 7.10m to top the event ahead of Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who mustered a best of 6.98m. Another American, Jasmine Moore (6.96m) was third.

Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and Shiann Salmon finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the final of the Women’s 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Clayton, who won bronze at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, ran a brilliant 52.68 for fifth while Salmon ran 53.29 in fifth.

American superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the Stade de France track ablaze with a phenomenal world record 50.37 to successfully defend her Olympic title, breaking the previous mark of 50.65 she set in winning at the US Olympic Trials in June.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s countrywoman, Anna Cockrell, produced a massive personal best 51.87 in second while 2023 World Champion Femke Bol took bronze in 52.15.

The USA's Jasmine Jones ran a personal best 52.29 in fourth. Canada's Savannah Sutherland and France's Louise Maraval were seventh and eighth with 53.88 and 54.53, respectively.

Letsile Tebogo won Botswana's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men's 200m final on Thursday, as Noah Lyles missed out on a sprint double.

US Track and Field subsequently confirmed 100m victor Lyles raced despite testing positive for COVID-19, yet he still took bronze while compatriot Kenny Bednarek claimed silver.

Tebogo recorded a winning time of 19.46 seconds at the Stade de France, appearing in control from the off as he won just Botswana's third Olympic medal of any kind.

They previously took bronze in the men's 4 x 400 relay at the Tokyo Games three years ago, while Nijel Amos took silver in the men's 800m at London 2012.

Tebogo had already beaten Lyles in the semi-finals, running a time of 19.96 to the American's 20.08.

In Thursday's final, Bednarek followed Tebogo home with a time of 19.62, while Lyles was third with a 19.70 despite rumours circulating about his fitness in the build-up to the race.

After the final, Lyles was wheeled away from the track in a chair and US Track and Field revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Another American, Erriyon Knighton, just missed out on the podium with a time of 19.99, while Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic was fifth.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo turned back the challenge of his American counterparts to cop the men’s 200m crown in a much-anticipated Paris Olympic Games final at Stade de France on Thursday.

The 21-year-old, who was the bronze medallist at last year’s World Championships, upgraded in a massive way, as he proved strongest in the closing stages to win the half-lap event in National Record 19.45s.

Americans Kenneth Bednarek (19.62s), Noah Lyles (19.70s), and Eriyon Knighton (19.99s) were second, third, and fourth, respectively, while the Caribbean’s lone representative, Alexander Ogando (20.02s) of the Dominican Republic, was third.

Not only did Tebogo deny Olympic 100m champion Lyles the sprint double, but he also prolonged the American’s wait to crown a male 200m champion since 2004.

Roje Stona etched his name in the annals of Jamaican sports history as he secured the nation’s first gold medal of the Paris Olympic Games and, in the process, became the first from the island—male or female—to win an Olympic gold medal in the throws.

In a breathtaking performance, Stona, on his debut at the global multi-sport showpiece, not only clinched the top podium spot but also set a new Olympic record of 70.00m, which marked a monumental achievement for himself and his country, at the Stade de France on Wednesday.

Competing in a world-class field, Stona, who was one of three Jamaicans in the final, stood tall with his impressive fourth-round throw to upset the applecart. He won ahead of World Record holder Mykolas Alekna (69.97m) of Lithuania and Australia’s Matthew Denny (69.31m).

The other Jamaicans, Ralford Mullings (65.61m) and Travis Smikle (64.97m), were ninth and 10th, respectively.

Stona, 25, coached by America’s three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser, was praised by Smikle for his achievement, which is a testament to his relentless work ethic and the rigorous training regimen, which included stints with NFL teams Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

“I am so happy for him; it’s a big thing to see. Stona is a great thrower, and he showed it today. This is the beautiful thing about track and field; there are a lot of upsets, and Stona is having his moment. I had a bad day and Ralford Mullings had a bad day as well, so Stona’s performance is a great achievement for him and for Jamaica as well,” Smikle said.

Jamaica, renowned for its prowess in sprinting, now has a new hero in field events. In fact, four of the country’s five medals at the Paris Games so far have come in the field, as Kishane Thompson’s 100m silver is the lone medal from the track.

Stona’s historic victory in the discus throw, as well as Rajindra Campbell’s shot put bronze, Shanieka Ricketts’ triple jump silver, and Wayne Pinnock’s long jump silver, heralds a new era of success and diversification in Jamaica’s athletic achievements and promises an exciting future for the island’s athletes in all disciplines.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards produced the best 400m race of his life but it just narrowly placed him outside the medals at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old, who entered Wednesday’s Men’s 400m final at the Stade de France with a personal best of 44.18 done at the London Diamond League on July 20 this year, produced a national record 43.78 to finish fourth.

The previous national record of 44.01 was held by Machel Cedenio who ran that time in a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Running out of lane nine, Richards went out extremely hard in the first 300m before being caught by the field in the last portion of the race.

American Quincy Hall won his maiden Olympic title with a brilliant personal best 44.40, the fourth fastest time in history.

Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, like he did at the World Championships in Budapest last year, took silver with a European record 43.44 while Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga ran 43.74, a national record, to take bronze just ahead of Richards.

Grenadian 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James was fifth in 43.87. USA’s Chris Bailey (44.58), Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (44.73) and USA’s Michael Norman (45.62) rounded out the top eight.

The Caribbean will have two chances at a medal in the women’s 400m final at the Paris Olympic Games, as Domincan Republic’s Marileidy Paulino and Barbadian Sade Williams progressed from their respective semi-finals at the Stade de France on Wednesday.

While their progressions were anticipated, Jamaica’s world leader, Nickisha Pryce, who enjoyed a rich vein of form throughout the season, was a big surprise casualty as she had her worst performance this year in semi-final two. Pryce went out hard but faded into fourth in 50.77s, behind Paulino (49.21s), who won comfortably ahead of American Alexis Holmes (50.00s).

Despite placing third in semi-final three, Sade Williams’ 49.89s was good enough for one of the two non-automatic qualifying spots to the final. Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek (49.45s) won the race ahead of Great Britain’s Amber Anning (49.47s).

Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams (50.79s) and Cuba’s Roxana Gomez (50.48s) were seventh and fifth in that semi-final, respectively, and both failed to progress.

Earlier, Jamaican Junelle Bromfield (51.93s) and Puerto Rico’s Gabby Scott (51.22s) were eighth and seventh in semi-final one, as they too missed out. The qualifying spots from that race went to Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser (49.08s), Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (49.95s), and Norway’s Henriette Jaeger (50.17s).

The final is scheduled for Friday, August 9.

Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert has advanced to the final of the Men’s triple jump at the Paris Olympics.

The 19-year-old, in his first Olympic Games, produced a best jump of 16.99m to advance sixth overall in qualifying at the Stade de France on Wednesday.

That 16.99m came in his first-round jump. He then did 16.95m in round two before closing out his qualifying campaign with a foul in the third round.

The other Jamaican in the field, Jordan Scott, had a best jump of 16.36m to finish 24^th overall in qualifying.

Medal contenders Pedro Pichardo, Jordan Diaz Fortuin and Hugues Fabrice Zango all successfully made it through to Friday’s final.

Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando will be the Caribbean’s lone representative in the men’s 200m final after he successfully navigated the semi-finals on Wednesday’s evening session of the Paris Olympic Games at Stade de France.

Ogando, who has in the past shown his ability over 400m, utilised that endurance to place second in semi-final one. He clocked 20.09s, behind American gold medal favourite Kenneth Bednarek, who stopped the clock in a flat 20.00s.

Bahamian Wanya McCoy (20.61s) and Jamaica’s Bryan Levell (20.93s) were fifth and eighth in that semi-final and failed to progress.

Meanwhile, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (19.96s), American 100m champion Noah Lyles (20.08s), and Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba (20.31s) advanced from semi-final two, while another American, Erriyon Knighton (20.09s), Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.12s), and Tapiwanashe Makarawu (20.16s), also of Zimbabwe, got the coveted spots from semi-final three.

The men's 200m final is scheduled for Friday August 9.

Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke and the British Virgin Islands’ Kyron McMaster will represent the Caribbean in the final of the Men’s 400m hurdle after successfully getting through the semifinals at the Stade de France on Wednesday.

BVI’s McMaster, who finished fourth at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, will have an opportunity to win his first Olympic medal after running 48.15 to win the second semifinal ahead of Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.16), now a finalist for the third successive Olympics.

Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba also made it through to the final out of that semi with 48.20 in third.

Jamaica’s Malik James-King looked set to finish in the top two in that semifinal before clipping the last hurdle and stumbling to seventh in 48.85.

Clarke ran comfortably on his way to 48.34 for second in the third semifinal behind American Rai Benjamin who won in 47.85.

Reigning Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm (47.67), France’s Clement Ducos (47.85) and 2023 World champion Alison Dos Santos (47.95) qualified from the first semifinal.

Jaheel Hyde ran 50.03 to finish seventh in that first semifinal.

The final is set for Friday at 2:45pm Jamaica Time (3:45pm ECT).