Born in Maidstone, Kent, Richardson moved to Warwick, Australia, at the age of nine, and has since represented the country with a distinguished sporting career. His recent achievements include three medals at the Paris Olympics Games (2 silver in the individual sprint and keirin events, and one bronze in the team sprint). Additionally, Richardson captured the title in the team sprint and a silver in the individual sprint at the 2022 World Championships in France, further cementing his reputation as one of the best track sprinters in the world.

British Cycling officially confirmed Richardson's transition to their team following the approval of his nationality change by the UCI. Richardson expressed his enthusiasm about joining the British squad, which will be led by Sir Jason Kenny. “I have decided to pack up and move to the other side of the world to start the next chapter of my cycling career,” Richardson stated. He described the decision as "difficult" and not taken "lightly," emphasising that it was a personal choice driven by his passion and desire to reach new heights in his career. Despite the change, Richardson conveyed deep respect for Australia and its cycling team, which will always be a part of his journey.

Richardson’s switch also comes as British Cycling prepares to build on its impressive track record. The organisation’s performance director, Stephen Park, welcomed Richardson’s arrival with enthusiasm. “We are delighted to welcome Matt to the team and will support him through his transition. Our sprint programme has achieved fantastic results in recent Olympics and continues to improve,” Park noted. He added that Richardson’s addition would bolster the team’s strength as they look ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

However, the change has also been met with some disappointment in Australia. Jesse Korf, CEO of AusCycling, expressed regret over Richardson’s departure. “The announcement of Matt’s switch is disappointing and came as a surprise,” Korf said. He acknowledged the strong emotional ties one might feel towards representing their country of birth but also highlighted Richardson’s significant contributions to Australia’s sprint programme over the past five years.

As Richardson transitions to British Cycling, he will join a roster of 139 athletes. However, due to UCI regulations on nationality changes, he will not be eligible to compete in major events until after the next editions of the World Championships and Continental Championships. Consequently, Richardson will miss the upcoming World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, and the European Championships in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

This move marks a new chapter in Richardson’s career as he returns to his roots and seeks to continue his success on the track with his new team.