Matt Richardson, the double Olympic silver medallist, has stated he is 'unfazed' by any potential animosity from his former Australian team-mates as he prepares to defend his Commonwealth Games cycling titles for Team England. The 27-year-old, who was born in Maidstone, Kent, but moved to Australia at the age of nine, made the high-profile switch to Great Britain just days after securing two silver and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
His decision to change cycling nationality resulted in a lifetime ban from rejoining the Australian team. Richardson, who holds dual citizenship, told BBC Radio Kent that he had 'moved on' from the furore, stating: 'I tried to block out all the negativity, and all the noise. I experienced the way they decided to handle it at the time, and moved on as quickly as I could. Ultimately, it has zero effect on me.'
Since joining the Team GB squad, Richardson has enjoyed a period of significant success, which he believes vindicates his choice. In 2025, he secured two silver medals in sprint and team sprint at the Track Cycling World Championships, before going on to win the European sprint and keirin titles. He has also twice broken the men's flying 200m time trial world record, becoming the first cyclist to complete the event in under nine seconds.
Richardson attributes much of his recent progression to the enhanced resources and training facilities available in Britain. He highlighted the difference in equipment provision, noting, 'No expense is spared when it comes to trying to achieve success... I fly to races now with about four or five bikes,' a stark contrast to his time with Australia where he would often travel with just his race bike. This level of support, he believes, can be crucial in races decided by mere thousandths of a second.
Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he won individual and team sprint golds in 2022, Richardson remains confident despite having a 'target on his back'. He plans to compete in the team sprint, keirin, and sprint events, with a decision on the kilo race still pending. His busy schedule, including travel from a race in Japan, means he might fly in on the day of the team sprint and head straight to the velodrome, but he remains determined to compete and, if possible, win every event he enters.