Furious Aussies slam Olympics hero who sensationally defected to Great Britain and say he should be hit with a radical punishment
- Matthew Richardson to represent Team GB at the 2028 Olympic Games in LA
- He won three cycling medals for Australia at the Paris Games
- Richardson, 25, who was born in England, said the decision was ‘difficult’
Angry Australian sports fans have called on cyclist Matthew Richardson to return the taxpayers’ money he used to fund his trip to the Paris Olympics after the Olympic silver medallist defected to Britain.
Richardson, 25, was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, before moving with his family to Perth at the age of nine.
He won three medals for Australia in Paris, with silver in the sprint and keirin and bronze in the team sprint.
But after his surprise move, which stunned the cycling world, Richardson has become a deeply divisive sports figure.
‘Wow what’s up with defected cyclist Matthew Richardson? He’s been taking Australian taxpayers money for years and now he’s got a bit of success and money he’s going to represent Britain…. he should be paid back every penny he’s ever been given,’ one irate fan tweeted on X.
Another agreed, posting: ‘Make him pay back every damn dollar spent on him.’
A third said: ‘I’m sorry but no self respecting person who calls themselves an Aussie would ever choose to represent the Poms and vice versa. That tells me Matthew Richardson never saw himself as an Australian and in fact used the country and taxpayers’ money as a means to an end.’
The process to switch nationalities began a few months before it was finally approved, meaning Richardson, who is currently in a relationship with Emma Finucane, a young cyclist for Team GB, knew he would be defecting before he went on to represent Australia earlier this month.
Australian sports fans have called on cyclist Matthew Richardson to return taxpayers’ money after the Olympic silver medallist defected to Britain (pictured after winning bronze at the Paris Games)
Richardson won three medals for Australia at the Paris Games, with silver in the sprint and keirin and bronze in the team sprint
Richardson is currently in a relationship with Team GB cyclist Emma Finucane (pictured)
Australian Cycling boss Jesse Korf admitted Richardson’s move “came as a surprise”.
‘Matt’s announcement of his transfer is disappointing and came as a surprise.
“We also understand that the desire to compete for the country where you were born can stir up strong emotions,” AusCycling’s general manager of performance said in a statement.
Richardson admitted it was a “difficult” decision taken with “careful consideration”.
“Changing nationality was a difficult decision, and not one I took lightly. It was a personal choice, made after careful consideration of my career and future. It is not something I chose quickly or easily,” he said.
‘I have a lot of respect for Australia and the Australian cycling team, and it will always be a part of me.
‘As this new chapter in my life begins, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the coaches and support staff who have worked with me in Australia over the many years.’
Australian Cycling has also disabled comments on their social media posts after the news was announced on X on Monday evening.
According to the rules of the international cycling federation UCI, Richardson is not allowed to participate in the world championships in Denmark in October or the European championships in February. He can, however, be selected in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.