When defection is the only word

WHEN the name Matthew Richardson was recently bandied about in a sporting context, most Tasmanians would have thought of the former erratic, yet loveable Richmond Tigers forward who was born in Devonport. 

But this was a story about a different Matthew Richardson. 

It was the Australian cyclist who defected to represent Great Britain in track cycling following stellar performances at the Paris Olympic Games. 

Defection is a strong word, but it was the one chosen by the media to sensationalise Richardson’s decision. 

It had me reflecting on more obvious places you find defectors like James Bond movies and stories of Soviets, US, and British spies swapping allegiances in the minds of famous authors like Ian Fleming, Robert Ludlum Joseph Kanon, John le Carre, and Tom Clancy. As an aficionado of spy films and novels, defection is a common theme often attributed to Cold War conflicts, a period between 1947 to 1991, which came to an end after the fall of the Soviet Union. 

Richardson, who was born in England before moving to Australia with his family aged nine, first represented Australia in 2020 at the World Championships and then again at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where he picked up two gold medals: one in the team’s sprint and one in the individual sprint. 

He won two silver medals and a bronze when representing his adopted country at the Paris Olympics. 

Richardson, who soon relocated to South Australia, was first noticed when he attended a come try event facilitated by the Western Australia Institute of Sport. 

He soon signed a contract and has been on a taxpayer-funded professional sporting sponsorship ever since. And, although a generalisation, Australians have not responded well to the defection. 

There was condemnation because of the investment made by the Australian taxpayer when it could have gone to another talented athlete who was more committed to our country. 

And what made it morning galling to passionate followers of our sport loving nation was that the defection is to Great Britain, the mother country and our head of state, but not when it comes to sport. 

The condemnation was slightly tempered because of our win at all costs sporting attitude where precedent has demonstrated that we will take risks on athletes with birth and family links to other countries. 

In quotes which underscored our nation’s characterisation of our newest sporting villain, he told he told Eurosport’s The Gruppetto show. “I looked over at the GB people and thought, ‘I could have been there’,” he said. 

“And I thought, ‘hmm, this feels quite strange.’ I never hesitated once when racing for Australia at any competition in the last seven years, but that was the first thought of what could possibly be if I hadn’t moved to Australia and I was racing for GB.”

AusCycling’s were quick to condemn Richardson’s switch.

It had me reflecting on more obvious places you find defectors like James Bond movies and stories of Soviets, US, and British spies. 

“There’s disappointment around the decision and the process and not knowing around Matt’s circumstances,” AusCycling’s executive general manager, performance, Jesse Korf, said on Tuesday. 

AusCycling is still considering whether they will impose a two-year non-competition clause. But, let’s be honest, as Australians we are gold medallists at hypocrisy. 

We have accepted athletes and coaches from other counties, particularly when they are winners. 

Consider the following list of those who were born in other countries before donning the green and gold and some who even represented their country of birth before receiving citizenship and becoming part of our sporting history: Ange Postecoglou, Usman Khawaja, David Pocock, Archie Thompson, Paul Wade, Robbie Slater, Meg Lanning, Kosta Tszyu, Andrew Symons, Tatiana Grigorieva, Jelena Djokic, Matt Renshaw, and endless members of Australian Rugby Union teams. 

And what about : Phar Lap, Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Rebecca Gibney, Russell Crowe, Keith Urban, Jane Campion, pavlova, lamingtons, and ANZAC biscuits would you believe! 

Of course, there are some athletes who we offer understanding when competing for a sporting enemy. Kepler Wessels, the South African born Australian Test cricket opener returned to represent his country of birth when the apartheid regime was largely repealed during 1990 and 1991, permitting the ‘Springboks’ readmission to the international sporting stage. 

Throughout recent sporting history, several athletes have represented their country of birth before defecting to a rival. 

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova who represented Czechoslovakia before playing the Fed Cup for the US; Merlene Ottey, the Jamaican sprinter, who competed for Slovenia; Chris Froome, the Tour de France winning cyclist, who was born in Kenya before choosing Great Britain, and Eoin Morgan, the Irish cricketer, who defected to England and captained their one-day side for seven years! 

It’s fair to say that when most people discuss the name Matthew Richardson, the Australian Rules footballer will remain front of mind, particularly for Tasmanians. 

Yet this saga has provoked a sports’ loving nation to question the lack of transparency and truthfulness of an athlete who knew he would be moving to represent his country of birth following the Paris Olympics. 

No one questions Richardson’s efforts and commitment to winning medals for his adopted country, but we do find it galling when it is perceived that a sportsperson has taken the support yet had their mind on another prize. Most of the time…