KEY POINTS:
So Jesse Sergent, a bronze in the team pursuit at your first Olympics and only one New Zealander has done that younger than you. Waddya reckon about that?
"That's pretty cool," the Feilding 20-year-old said yesterday.
He was unaware that only cox Simon Dickie has had a gong draped round his neck at a more tender age.
Dickie guided the coxed four to gold at Mexico City in 1968 when he was just 17.
Sergent, with double medallist Hayden Roulston, Sam Bewley and Marc Ryan, cleaned out Australia to claim the pursuit bronze at the Laoshan Velodrome on Monday night.
His family were there to watch it. That, too, is "pretty cool".
Winning the bronze "hasn't really fully sunk in yet".
Sergent is rapt because when New Zealand finished fourth in the world championships in Manchester in March, he didn't get the ride. This time he made it and fulfilled an ambition he's had most of his young life.
"I remember watching Gary Anderson win the bronze medal in the individual pursuit [at Barcelona in 1992]. Pretty much then I knew it was something I wanted to achieve. But it's pretty amazing to be here and doing it so young."
Cycling has been his life for years. When he's not riding somewhere, which he reckons is about 10 months a year, he likes to "hang 'round with my friends and family".
He played some soccer when he was younger but the bike has long been his passion, and he prefers the track over road racing.
"I've found it more enjoyable. I'm not sure why."
One could take a wild stab, but anyway what now for the former Palmerston North Boys High peddler? He's sticking around for the rest of the Games and heading home with the bulk of the New Zealand team after the closing ceremony.
The team pursuit squad comprised six riders. Westley Gough got a ride in the qualifying race, but Peter Latham missed out altogether. Neither gets a medal, which grates with their young teammate.
They are looking at ways to get two more medals for Gough and Latham. And it's been suggested that the New Zealand Olympic Committee can apply for a fifth medal as Gough technically did compete for the third-placed team. Latham wouldn't miss out either.
Being on a dais is nothing new for Sergent. He was in the gold medal-winning team pursuit at the junior world champs in 2005, and won bronze in the individual pursuit a year later.
But this is the real deal and Sergent has now had a taste of the big time. He'll want more.
One thing's for sure, age is on his side.
