Controversial cycling star Matthew Richardson, who has caused outrage in Australia over his decision to defect and compete for Britain, says the criticism he has received has been “pretty unfair”.
Richardson went from Australian hero to public enemy number one by announcing that he would henceforth compete for Great Britain.
Richardson represented Australia until August this year, competing as a track cyclist in men’s keirin, individual sprint and team sprint at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where the Australians finished fourth.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Kent-born 25-year-old won two silver medals in the keirin and men’s sprint, and a bronze in the men’s team sprint.
He then surprised Australians by announcing his decision to change nationality and compete for Great Britain, citing personal reasons and a desire to pursue new dreams.
This move was approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and, following his defection, Richardson competed for Great Britain in the UCI Track Champions League three days ago, winning the men’s sprint and keirin finals in France.
Cycling star Matthew Richardson has opened up about his decision to defect from Australian cycling to Britain.
Controversial cycling star says attention paid to him has been ‘unfair’
AusCycling has banned Richardson for life from representing Australia, citing his conduct before defecting, including withholding information about his move and requesting to take ownership of AusCycling to Britain.
“I think the attention given to me has been quite unfair. I’m not the first to compete for another country after representing Australia, but because of my success, I’ve gotten a higher profile,” Richardson said. news.
‘I am very grateful to AusCycling for their support when I was riding for them. I have never attacked them and only spoke about them positively.
‘It’s not about having a future that I didn’t have in the Adelaide program as I’m happy with what I’ve achieved.
“But there is nothing that makes me doubt my decision, this is something I have wanted to do since I started competing.”
“But at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham I thought to myself how incredible it would have been to win a sprint as an Englishman in an English velodrome.”
“I really hope I can win some races in London, it will be a very special feeling,” says Richardson.
“I haven’t felt any uncertainty from the British fans and it’s good to have such great support considering I haven’t given them any real results yet.”
Australian fans continue to criticize Richardson online for his decision to compete for Great Britain.
Richardson has since received a lifetime ban from AusCycle.
Richardson might feel the support of British fans, but Australians are not as impressed.
‘Australia created this guy. Without them he is nobody,’ one responded on his Instagram account.
“He doesn’t have the integrity and values of an Australian,” posted another.
“Give us back the taxpayer money we invested in you as an Australian,” a third commented.
“This guy is a bastard with no integrity,” another responded.
While Richardson had irritated many Australian athletes, he responded to his detractors earlier this year, explaining why he had chosen to part ways with the Australian team.
“I obviously understood that there would be some bitterness around this decision, but at the end of the day it’s my career and it’s my life,” he told ABC.
‘Everyone has the right to have their opinion. It’s up to me whether I want to listen to it or not, and I’ve obviously chosen not to.
“Growing up, I watched people like Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny win gold medals at the Olympics for Great Britain, and those kinds of memories really resonate with a child,” he said.
“It burned into my brain and that’s stuck with me ever since.”