Double World Champion Matt Richards has earned a nomination for the prestigious UK Sport PLx Awards 2023, capping off a historic year marked by his remarkable achievements. Coached by Ryan Livingstone at Millfield in south-west England, the 20-year-old showcased his prowess at the British Championships in April, achieving the unprecedented 21/47.1:44 freestyle triple – clocking 21.98 in the 50, 47.72 in the 100, and 1:44.83 in the 200.
At the Fukuoka World Championships, Richards secured a historic British one-two in the 200 free, leading Olympic champion Tom Dean. Later, he joined forces with Dean, Duncan Scott, and James Guy to clinch the 4×200 world crown, adding to their Olympic triumph. Additionally, Richards led the British 4×100 mixed free quartet to bronze in a European record time of 3:21.68 with a remarkable 47.83 split.
Matt Richards
Richards is set to compete at the European Short-Course Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, aiming to further add to his accolades in the 50, 100, and 200 free events. His outstanding contributions have earned him a nomination for the Athlete Award at the PLx Awards alongside other notable athletes.
Reflecting on his achievements in 2023, Richards expressed satisfaction with the season’s success and emphasized the collective effort to rebuild and strive for excellence. The PLx Awards, organized by UK Sport and supported by The National Lottery, will honor outstanding individuals, teams, and projects in the Olympic and Paralympic high-performance community at the awards ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon on 28 November.
