PARIS — If viewed as self-centred because he brought COVID to the Stade de France in pursuit of gold, it surely has to be pointed out that American sprinter Noah Lyles and other track and field athletes are also self-funded.

Which is to say, they are paid to win; races and medals, titles, social media followers and sponsors. They are independent contractors, hired and fired guns whose competitive career lasts as long as they are, well, competitive. And if they don’t do everything they can to maximize their potential, both physical and financial, then they might well feel as if the only person being cheated by their choices is the man or woman in the mirror.