Footage has come to light of what’s been labelled a ‘disgraceful’ and ‘appalling’ act from a rival that led to Matt Richardson withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games due to injury. The Glasgow Games have been robbed of a spicy showdown between Richardson and the Aussie team after the cyclist’s decision to defect from Australia to Great Britain in 2024.
Richardson dropped a bombshell just days after winning two silver and a bronze for Australia at the Paris Olympics that he was changing his allegiance to GB. Cycling Australia subsequently gave him a lifetime ban from ever representing the green and gold again.
Kento Suzuki was disqualified for the incident with Matt Richardson. Image: Channel 7/Getty
The English-born Richardson, who moved to Australia at age 9, made some explosive comments about the Aussie program leading into the Commonwealth Games, saying the GB set-up was much more advanced. It set the stage for a mouth-watering contest in Glasgow, but it was scuppered on Wednesday night when Richardson withdrew.
Richardson was hurt earlier this week while racing in Japan’s prestigious keirin series. And on Thursday vision emerged of the incident that saw him crash mid-race.
The footage shows Japanese rider Kento Suzuki veering sideways and barrelling into Richardson, forcing him to crash. Discussing the footage on Channel 7, presenters Matt White and Joanna Griggs both felt it was a deliberate act.
“He is absolutely taken out,” White said. “He has been taken out by a fellow competitor, which no one wants to see. That’s appalling. No matter what storyline you want to follow into this one … and that’s an inch away from serious physical injury.”
Griggs added: “That in itself is disgraceful. That’s ugly and horrible and unnecessary.”
Matthew Richardson could have been seriously injured. Image: Channel 7
Suzuki was disqualified over the incident and later put it down to “my own lack of skill.” He wrote on social media: “From this point onwards, I’ve changed my mindset. If it doesn’t work vertically, I’ll try horizontally – I just couldn’t help but move. I’m sorry!”
Matthew Richardson won gold for Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Comm Games robbed of Matt Richardson v Australia
Thankfully Richardson’s injuries are only believed to be ‘superficial’ and the England team said he’d be back on the track soon. The Australian cycling team was making no comment as the news reverberated around the Games in Glasgow.
Richardson has competed against Australian riders since his defection, but this would have been the highest-profile event where he was up against his former teammates. His showdown with former teammate Leigh Hoffman shaped as arguably the biggest story of the Glasgow Games.
with AAP