Matt Richards

Matt Richards is a British swimmer who specialises in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle and has been active internationally since 2020. Born on 17 December 2002 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, he began swimming at five and joined the Droitwich Dolphins at eight, later moving to Worcester Swimming Club. Although born in England he represented Wales because his father was born there, and he broke Welsh records in both freestyle distances. He swam the third leg of the Great Britain 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay that won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the first British win in that event since 1908. In 2023 he won the 200 metre freestyle and the 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay at the World Aquatics Championships, and at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris he took silver in the 200 metre freestyle, beaten by only 0.02 of a second.