British cyclist forced out of Commonwealth Games after being wiped out by rival in horror crash
Matt Richardson’s hopes of winning gold at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games were ended following a horror crash at the Keirin World Series in Japan.
Footage shows the Team England cyclist, who controversially switched nationalities from Australia two years ago, being slammed into by Japanese rider Kento Suzuki.
He turned straight into Richardson, 27, sending the ex-Aussie rider tumbling to the floor at high speed.
Richardson, who won three medals at the 2024 Olympics, was lying on his side as medics rushed to his aid with only one lap to go.
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The athlete left the outdoor velodrome in an ambulance after the race finished.
Australian journalist Matt White said: “Richardson is out of the Commonwealth Games in horrible fashion.
“He is absolutely taken out. In motor racing terms, that’s T-boned. He has been taken out by a fellow competitor, which no one wants to see.”
Watch the incident unfold below:
“That’s appalling, no matter what storyline you want to follow into this one. That’s an inch away from serious physical injury,” White added.
Johanna Griggs also noted ‘that in itself is disgraceful. That’s ugly, horrible and unnecessary’.
Suzuki was subsequently disqualified from the Keirin World Series event and went on to issue an apology.
“There’s no excuses, it’s simply down to my own lack of skill,” he said in a statement shared on social media.
“From this point onwards, I’ve changed my mindset. If it doesn’t work vertically, I’ll try horizontally – I just couldn’t help but move. I’m sorry.”
While we are yet to know the extent of the injury, Team England has already announced Richardson’s replacement as 21-year-old Harry Radford, ‘who was part of the British team that won team sprint silver earlier this year’.
Meanwhile, his former Aussie teammate Leigh Hoffman appeared to offer some words of encouragement towards Richardson before mocking him with a brutal two-word comment.
“It was horrible. I’ve seen the video of the crash,” he said.
“I’m upset he’s not here but that’s what it is. I think there’s still some dangerous hitters out there… Commonwealth countries in track cycling are very strong. So I’ve got plenty of fish to worry about.
“It would be great if he stayed in Australia, but his heart was obviously never always in it. So good riddance.”
The Maidstone-born cyclist opted to represent the nation of his birth in 2024.
He has gone on to win a pair of world silver medals in British colours, alongside two European titles.
“The Commonwealth Games are so special because it's the only time that I get to represent England once every four years," he said ahead of Glasgow 2026.
A statement from Team England 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."
Anish Vij