LONDON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Olympic track cyclist Matthew Richardson has announced he is switching allegiance from Australia to Britain just a week after winning three medals in the Velodrome at the Paris Olympic Games.
Richardson claimed a bronze medal as part of the Australian team sprint squad and then took silver in the men's sprint and keirin events, where he was only bettered by Dutch sprint sensation Harrie Lavreysen, who ended the Games with three gold medals.
However, from now the 26-year-old will ride for Britain after having his application to switch approved by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) - the governing body of world cycling.
Richardson was born in England and moved to Australia when he was nine years old, maintaining dual nationality.
Writing on social media, he said it was a "difficult decision."
"It was a personal choice, made after careful consideration of my career and future. It's not something I decided on quickly or easily. I deeply respect Australia and the AusCycling Team and it will always be a part of who I am."
"But this decision is about following my passion and pushing myself to new heights," he said.
He will now work with the British sprint squad, which is coached by Sir Jason Kenny, who won seven Olympic gold medals.
The Executive General Manager of Performance at AusCycling, Jesse Korf, said he was surprised by the decision, adding that it was disappointing that Richardson would be leaving a program that had delivered great personal and national success," although he admitted he understood the "desire to compete for a country one was born in can bring forth strong emotions." ■
