Matt Richards: Swimming is different, it’s a life-saving skill

Matt Richards already has a relay gold from Tokyo but individual glory awaits in Paris, telling Jack Rathborn about taking inspiration from Adam Peaty and the power of swimming

Sports Editor

Tuesday 23 July 2024 09:48 EDT

Matt Richards celebrates with his medal after winning the men’s 100m freestyle at the British Swimming Championships in April (Getty)

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Matt Richards senses his time is now. The 21-year-old gives an enthusiastic nod when pointing out how nine intense days could change his life and propel him towards superstardom. The 21-year-old is poised to become one of British swimming’s standout performers at the Paris Olympics.

Despite already being an Olympic champion, after delivering a storming third leg in the 4x200m freestyle in Tokyo, Richards is desperate to taste individual glory.

“I’m aware of the size of the opportunity and the importance of this summer,” the 200m freestyle world champion tells The Independent, after qualifying for six events with a potential 15 races in Paris, where the Speedo athlete will wear the new Fastskin 2.0 race suit.

“It’s something we’ve planned for long in advance. It’s been a longer-term plan developed over the years. I’m aware of what I can do but I want to enjoy it and do what I love. My best performances come from that, I love racing and the sport. The whole priority is to continue loving it, enjoying it and don’t worry about the external pressure.”

His grounding in the sport, fundamental habits and work ethic have been built in part due to the camaraderie seen throughout Team GB’s relays. The brutal nature of the British trials left many stunned, with Olympic 200m freestyle champion Tom Dean edged out by Richards and Duncan Scott. The fierce competition emphasises the importance of a mental edge, with Richards determined to hold his nerve.

“Fundamentally, all races come down to the mental edge,” Richards claims, having become the first person to swim a sub-22-second 50m freestyle, a sub-48sec 100m freestyle and a sub-1min 45sec 200m freestyle. “Everybody in those races, they’ve all made sacrifices and want to win.

“I think it comes down to the mentality, though. The way you can prepare for that and deliver at the right time because we’re all great athletes, but the way we’re separated is who can hold their nerve.

“I do this by just enjoying it and embracing the challenge of what the summer will bring, each race as it comes. If I do that, it’ll be a great week.”

It is notable how Richards treasures a picture of himself aged 13 with Adam Peaty, then the newly crowned Olympic champion after the Rio Games. A role model on his journey through the junior ranks, Richards cannot hide his admiration for his teammate, who is targeting a historic third crown in Paris after struggling with his mental health in recent years.

“He can definitely do it, he’s one of the greatest athletes Britain has ever had in any sport,” Richards insists, with Peaty looking to become only the second male swimmer to win gold in an individual event in three successive Games. “It’s unheard of, to do what he’s done to this level, we’ve never seen it before.

Tom Dean, James Guy and Matthew Richards react as teammate Duncan Scott (not pictured) swims the anchor leg during the 4x200m freestyle relay final at the Tokyo Games in July 2021 (Getty)

Dean, Richards, Guy and Scott win gold at the British Swimming Championships in April (Getty)

“The three-peat would be a generational thing many of us will never see again. It’ll be incredible. I really hope he does. It’s important for him to enjoy it, he’s been open about his mental struggles, getting out there and doing what he loves. If he gets that right, who knows what he can do?

“He’s been a huge inspiration over the years and helped me on my journey, being in the same apartment in Tokyo, seeing how he operates was so useful and I now use that in my career.”

But while success in the pool drives Richards, there is a responsibility that defies his youth to leave a legacy beyond it for future generations.

Caeleb Dressel at the US Olympic Team swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium (Getty)

Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, hosted the trials in June (Getty)

Richards was left in awe of the daring USA Swimming set-up for its Olympic trials, with a pool dropped into Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of NFL team Indianapolis Colts. And Richards hopes British swimming can capitalise on the increased audience that awaits his sport this week.

“It’s growing, it’s better than we’ve ever had it,” Richards maintains. “From Tokyo, it was the best Games ever as a team, I believe our best-ever world championships in Fukuoka, we’re in such a great place and that brings attention.

“But the next step is to get people watching and make it accessible. World Aquatics and the BBC need to come to an agreement and make swimming more visible. We need to get it out there. Yes, every sport is important but this is different. It’s a life-saving skill.

“We live on an island, we’re surrounded by water, there are rivers, canals, estuaries up and down the country. I think it’s so important to get as many children in the country water-safe. If that could mean putting it on the television, it might make them want to get into the pool. You can’t put a price on that.”