Lewis Richardson’s Olympic Journey: From Aspirations to Bronze

Lewis Richardson has made quite an impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing home a bronze medal in his weight class. His journey to the podium began a long time ago, back when he was just a 13-year-old boy stepping into the Centurions Boxing Club in Colchester. Initially, he joined the gym just to stay fit, with no competitive thoughts at all. However, as he put in the hard work and began winning, things started to change.

Simon Mullan, who started coaching at Centurions after leaving the Army, quickly noticed Richardson’s talent. Mullan said, “After a while, you begin to think hang on a minute, there’s something here. The thing is, Lewis is really, really clever.” When Richardson turned 15, he had to focus on his GCSE studies, which led him to train with Mullan independently for several years.

They trained in all sorts of places—sports centers, car parks, even tennis courts—and their bond grew stronger. After winning several championships, including the National Schools Championships, Richardson earned a spot on the England squad and then with GB Boxing. The transition to international competitions allowed Mullan to take on more of a mentoring role.

<p“I had to stand back, but it made our bond stronger,” Mullan explained. “Sometimes he’d come back from camp, and I could see he was getting burnt out. So we’d take it easy, go for swims, or just hang out and chat.” Their relationship grew into something special, more than just coach and student.

<pDespite facing challenges like stress fractures, surgeries, and even the removal of his natural weight category from the Olympics, Mullan never lost faith in Richardson’s abilities. “I always believed he would go to the Olympics. He’s such a brilliant person,” Mullan commented with pride.

<pUnfortunately, Mullan couldn’t be in Paris for the semifinals due to his officiating duties in Bosnia. However, he made it clear that he would be watching Richard’s matches with great interest. “We’ll be watching it on someone’s phone, just like we did in the airport before,” he said, reminiscing about the excitement of past matches.

<pRichardson faced off against Marco Verde from Mexico in the semifinal, but after a close fight, he had to settle for bronze. It was a hard-fought battle, and although he was disappointed, he also felt proud of what he accomplished. “I’ve brought a bronze medal home for Team GB,” he stated, reflecting on his achievement.

<pThis bronze medal is especially commendable given the challenges Richardson faced in making the 71 kg weight limit, after his original division was dropped from the Olympic lineup. His determination shows in every punch thrown throughout the tournament. “I can’t celebrate just yet because I wanted to change the color of that medal,” he expressed, but he remains hopeful for the future and excited about what lies ahead.