Reardon originally did not qualify after a hamstring injury ruled him out of the 400m final at the British Olympic Trials. Weeks later, he beat his personal best by 1.29 seconds at the London Diamond League, but it was too late to make him eligible for selection.

As fate would have it, Charlie Carvell, a member of Britain’s 4x400m squad was forced to withdraw due to an injury just as the Games began. The morning after the opening ceremony, Reardon received the unexpected news that he had been called up as a replacement in both the men’s and mixed relay events. 

Just a day later, he landed in Paris and by the end of the first weekend of Athletics, Reardon —with Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson and Amber Anning— had won the mixed 4x400m bronze and set a new national record. On the final night, he added men’s 4x400m bronze.

Reardon took to the podium carrying a photo of his late mother Marilyn in his pocket.

"She always said it would be just as much her dream to see me on the Olympic stage. It meant the world to have her support, she was my best friend, biggest motivation and inspiration," said Reardon of his mum, who died of a brain tumour in 2019.

It had been a shared dream for him to run at the Olympics, and in Paris 2024, Reardon made that dream come true twice over. 

Since the turn of the century, only Mo Farah, Kelly Holmes, Christine Ohuruogu and Kelly Sotherton had picked up multiple athletics medals for Britain at the same Olympics. Now Reardon has joined the ranks of these elite athletes. 

"It’s been a crazy non-stop journey," said the 20-year-old. "It’s all come at me at 200mph but I’ve tried to soak it up: running sub-45 for the first time, then getting to the Olympics, getting a run, winning a medal and then winning another one."

"I’m forever a double Olympic medallist. I could end my career here and I’d be happy."