Olympic Cyclist Switches Nationality to Great Britain

Matthew Richardson, an Australian track cyclist and Olympic silver medallist, has decided to switch nationalities and will now compete for Great Britain. This change comes after he received approval from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to represent his country of birth at future international events.

Richardson, who was born in Maidstone, England, moved to Australia when he was just nine years old. He began his cycling journey as a teenager in Perth while exploring alternatives to gymnastics. After impressing at a ‘try-out’ session, he was recruited to the Western Australia Institute of Sport.

His cycling career took off quickly as he bagged under-19 national titles and represented Australia at international events, including the Junior Track World Championships. His recent success includes three medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, along with multiple titles at the Commonwealth Games and UCI World Championships.

The Executive General Manager of AusCycling, Jesse Korf, expressed disappointment over Richardson’s decision to leave the Australian program. He acknowledged how much Richardson contributed over the past five years, emphasizing the progress and success the team has achieved together.

Richardson himself shared that making this decision was not easy, noting it had been a personal choice made after careful consideration about his future in cycling. He thanked his coaches, teammates, and everyone at AusCycling for their support and guidance throughout his career in Australia.

In an interview, he revealed that it felt like a massive relief to finally share his decision, which he had kept under wraps. He admitted he had always felt a strong connection to Great Britain and was excited to start this new chapter in his cycling career.