PARIS — Elouan Gardon celebrated his achievement by raising his fist in victory to a cheering crowd at the Vélodrome on Saturday. This medal marked his first ever Paralympic performance, where he secured a bronze medal in cycling.

Just two months prior, Gardon was not part of the team and had no experience in track cycling.

It was only in June when experienced cyclist Bryan Larsen brought him to the attention of the team’s coach.

“Bryan messaged me on Instagram saying, ‘This guy could be a great addition, he’s impressive,'” Sarah Hammer-Kroening recalled. “‘You should reach out to him.’

Hammer-Kroening sent Gardon an invitation to a national track camp in June, which he gladly accepted, showcasing his talent on the track right away.

According to Hammer-Kroening, it was evident from the beginning that Gardon was a confident individual with a competitive edge once he was on his bike. Even though he only had experience in road racing, he quickly adapted to track cycling.

That impressive adaptability was on full display when Gardon took home a bronze in the C5 4000-meter individual pursuit para-cycling event. C5 represents athletes with a minimal level of limb impairment.

“It was absolutely amazing, this is my first track race at an international level,” he expressed. “The thrill is truly exhilarating.”

Initially, Gardon fell behind his Austrian competitor Franz-Josef Lasser by 0.162 seconds in the first 1000m. However, in the second 1000m, he surged ahead, finishing more than 6 seconds in front with a total time of 4:18.880 to secure his third-place finish.

In the race for gold, Dorian Foulon from France won with a time of 4:16.158, followed by Yehor Dementyev from Ukraine who claimed silver in 4:17.770.

The 18-year-old rookie cyclist credited Bryan Larsen as an essential part of his journey to success, even using Larsen’s bike in the critical race for the medal.

“He has been a fantastic mentor,” Gardon shared. “He introduced me to the head coach of U.S. track cycling, Sarah Hammer-Kroening, and I can’t express how much he has helped me get here.”

Hammer-Kroenig acknowledged Larsen’s significant role in supporting Gardon’s progress.

“When you welcome a young and new rider like Gardon into the team, they are very impressionable, and it’s vital to have them learn from the right individuals,” Hammer-Kroening noted.

Hammer-Kroenig sees a bright future ahead for Gardon.

“He knows the importance of surrounding himself with knowledgeable people,” she stated. “That level of awareness is quite advanced for someone his age. If he keeps this up, he can have a fantastic future.”

Among those influencing him is Larsen, who finished sixth in the qualifying round of the C4 4000m with a time of 4:30.690, concluding his participation in Paris 2024. Larsen also placed 13th in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial, failing to advance to the finals.

Larsen remarked that while the race was tough, he felt proud of his performance.

“I expected a bit more from today’s race, but I’ll accept it,” he said. “After racing for 22, 23 years, this moment is the result of not just three years in para-cycling, but 22 years of challenging myself on the bike since I was just 12.”

Gardon has two remaining events at the Games, including the men’s C5 individual time trial on Wednesday, September 4, and the men’s C4-5 road race on Friday, September 6.