After watching the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games on TV as a 10-year-old and learning there was an avenue for people with a disability to compete on the world stage, Gordon Allan made it his goal to one day become a Paralympian.
He had started learning to ride a bike like most kids. However, unable to progress from training wheels like his mates, Gordon put the bike aside as he thought he’d never develop the required balance. In fact, he didn’t touch a bike again until the age of 12, when he was at a park with some friends and they dared him to ride down a big grassy hill. Somehow, he says, he stayed upright and, from there, his passion was ignited.
Gordon competed in football, athletics and swimming through primary school and early high school but discovered Para-Cycling after attending a Paralympics Australia Talent Search Day in 2011. With the help of Paralympic cycling champion Peter Brooks, he became determined to become a Paralympian himself.
Fast forward seven years, many hours of hard work – and a crash or two later – Gordon broke into the Australian Cycling Team at the age of 19. As the youngest member of the squad, he qualified for the 1km Time Trial at the 2018 Para Track World Championships, where he finished fifth. From there, the determined and hungry track cyclist grabbed every opportunity, going on to break multiple world records and claim World Championship medals in his quest to become the best athlete he can be.
Making his Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Gordon finished in a personal best of fifth position in the men’s 1000m time trial C1-2 (C2), crossing the line in 1:10.331. In the mixed 750m team sprint C1-5 event, he teamed with Meg Lemon and Amanda Reid to finish in ninth position.
Outside of cycling, you’ll often find Gordon watching sport, reading about sport or studying for his degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
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