Double gold for para-cyclist Gordon Allan at national para-cycling championship

A DOUBLE gold-medal ­performance at the national para-cycling championships has catapulted Lalor Park teenager Gordon Allan into contention for a spot in ­Australia’s team for the Rio Paralympics.

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A DOUBLE gold-medal ­performance at the national para-cycling championships has catapulted Lalor Park teenager Gordon Allan into contention for a spot in ­Australia’s team for the Rio Paralympics.

The 17-year-old won the road race and the time trial in his category at the ­Adelaide national titles to rocket into the mix for the August Games.

“I tried to make a statement, and leave my mark,” Gordon said.

“It’s up to the selectors now.”

Gordon doubts whether he will make it to Brazil, saying he has no international experience yet.

“But three weeks ago I wasn’t even thinking about Rio,” he said.

“There would be a fair bit of disappointment if I miss out, but I could understand it. It’s not the end of the world (if that happens). Either way my sights are still set on Tokyo in 2022.”

The upside would be a bit more breathing space for his HSC studies at ­Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown.

Teen para-cyclist Gordon Allan could win a spot at the Paralympics.

Gordon has been training six days a week, covering 250km, as well as doing a couple of hours of gym work.

That has meant cramming his studies into lunchtime and late at night.

“I’ve had no social life, but if you look at the goal at the end, it’s worth it,” he said.

Gordon, who has mild cerebral palsy affecting the right side of his body, said he owed much of his success to the sporting culture of western Sydney and his school.

His ability was spotted at an Australian Paralympic Committee talent search day at Blacktown, and he ended up joining the Parramatta Cycling Club and training at the Western Sydney Academy of Sport at Homebush.

He does a lot of his road training on the M7 bike path between Kings Langley and Quakers Hill, his velodrome training at Bankstown and his gym work at Blacktown.

“There are a lot of facilities and access is easy,” he said.

Gordon has also been ­active in athletics and ­swimming, and is a keen footballer, playing with his mates in their local Kings Langley team and ­representing Australia’s under-19 ­cerebral palsy side at least year’s world titles in England.