Double Olympic silver medallist Matt Richardson prepares to defend his Commonwealth Games cycling titles in 2026, now representing Team England after switching from Australia. The 27-year-old, born in Maidstone, Kent, moved to Australia at age nine, maintaining dual citizenship. His nationality change followed his impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he earned two silvers and a bronze, but resulted in a lifetime ban from the Australian team.

Richardson expressed that he has "moved on" from the backlash surrounding his decision. Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, he stated, "I tried to block out all the negativity, and all the noise... Ultimately, it has zero effect on me."

His results since joining the Team GB squad have validated his choice:

• Won two silver medals in sprint and team sprint at the 2025 Track Cycling World Championships.
• Clinched the European sprint and keirin titles.
• Became the first cyclist to break the men's flying 200m time trial world record under nine seconds.

Richardson credits the advanced resources and training facilities in Britain for his career progression, saying, "No expense is spared when it comes to trying to achieve success... We fly with more bikes, and more equipment." He contrasted this with his previous experiences with the Australian team, emphasizing the significant difference in preparation and equipment availability, which can be crucial in competitive cycling.