Nerveless Richards pooling his resources in medal hunt

Matt Richards won relay gold in Tokyo but mental strength will hold the key to individual glory, he tells Jack Rathborn

- Jack Rathborn

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 21year-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.”