Newcomer Elouan Gardon Leads Team USA to First Para-cycling Medal at Paris 2024
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by Rebecca Beard
MONTIGNY-LE-BRETTONEUX, FRANCE - Though rain threatened to dampen the day, it did little to temper the electrifying energy of the velodrome, where spirited spectators witnessed Elouan Gardon (Acme, Washington) secure a bronze medal for Team USA in his Paralympic debut.
For Gardon, who turned 18 in May, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games marked his first time competing in the track discipline, where the energy of the boisterous crowd amplified the experience.
“I’ve never had a crowd like this before,” Gardon said. “The feeling is absolutely exciting.”
Competing in the men’s 4000-meter C5 individual pursuit, his swift and controlled pace in the qualifiers came close to breaking both the world record and Paralympic record set in Tokyo 2020, falling short by just over half a second. Gardon narrowly missed gold medal contention, but his impressive performance proved more than sufficient to secure his advancement to the finals.
In the bronze medal race, Gardon showcased remarkable confidence as he executed his pacing strategy throughout the 4000m distance, maintaining a strong effort from start to finish, and completing the race over six seconds ahead of Austria’s Franz-Josef Lasser. His consistent lap times secured his first-ever podium appearance where he proudly accepted the hard-fought hardware.
“It feels pretty surreal,” Gardon said. “I am so incredibly happy, and happy to get the first medal for Para-Cycling in the Paralympic Games. I can’t wait to continue.”
Seasoned teammate Bryan Larsen (Windsor, California) discovered Gardon's talent as a road rider and encouraged him to pursue Para-cycling. After receiving an invitation to a talent identification camp in June, it became evident that Gardon possessed untapped potential. Gardon eagerly accepted the challenge to further his development, committing to the guidance of his coaching staff and the mentorship of Larsen.
Larsen also took to the track today, competing in the men’s 4000m C4 individual pursuit race opposite Team France, where shrills of excitement from the home crowd reverberated around the velodrome and offered an unexpected advantage to the American.
“It was almost numbing to a certain degree; it was almost better,” Larsen said. “Because it was so loud, it almost drowned my own thoughts, which sometimes negative thoughts can creep in. I was really, really happy to be able to subconsciously stick to my habits.”
With a clear mind, Larsen unleashed his speed, accelerating with such intensity that he shattered his own national record by nearly a full second, a time he had previously set in March at the 2024 UCI Para-Cycling World Championships.
Although Larsen’s valiant effort did not secure him a place in the finals, the experience was integral to his broader strategy of immersing himself in challenging environments, as he seeks to foster his continued growth in Para-cycling.
Racing action will unfold again at the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelineson on Sept. 1, streaming live on Peacock, NBC, USA Network and CNBC.
Follow U.S. Paralympics Cycling on Facebook, X, and Instagram for updates.
For media and photo inquiries, please contact Rebecca.Beard@usopc.org.
Team USA Results
Finals
Elouan Gardon: Bronze, 4000m Individual Pursuit men’s C5
Qualifying
Bryan Larsen: 6th, 4000m Individual Pursuit men’s C4
