Track cycling star Matt Richardson ruled out of Commonwealth Games with injury in blow to England

Matt Richardson will not compete in the Commonwealth Games this week after picking up an injury in a major blow to England’s hopes in the velodrome.

Richardson had been widely tipped for gold in the individual sprint, team sprint and keirin races in his first Commonwealth Games representing the country of his birth.

His only previous experience of the Commonwealth Games came in Birmingham 2022, when he represented Australia and won gold in the individual and team sprint, the latter alongside Leigh Hoffman - who returns in Glasgow - and Matthew Glaetzer.

A Team England statement on Wednesday read: “Unfortunately, due to an injury sustained in international racing earlier this week, Matt Richardson will no longer be able to compete for Team England at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the track soon.”

Harry Radford will make his Commonwealth Games debut instead as he will take Richardson’s place in the men’s sprint events.

Richardson was born in Maidstone, Kent to English parents, before moving to Warwick, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia, when he was nine. He started cycling as a teenager, joining the Midland Cycling Club, eventually becoming part of the national squad.

Richardson won two silver medals in last year's world championships, beating former teammate Hoffman in the sprint (Getty)

The 27-year-old won world, Olympic and Commonwealth medals with Australia, including two silvers and a bronze in Paris 2024, before making the decision to switch nationality to represent Great Britain shortly after that Olympics .

At the time of his nationality switch Richardson said: “It’s a massive stress relief finally having it out there. It’s been so hard keeping it from everyone. But I couldn’t be happier.”

Since his move to represent Great Britain he has won two silvers at the 2025 World Championships – his first major event in a GB jersey – and two golds and a silver at the 2026 European Championships, where he made history as the first British man to win the sprint title.

Last August he turned his attention to the world record for the 200m flying lap, becoming the first man to ever break the nine-second barrier.

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