By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
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British Olympic and world champion Matt Richards is joining the Florida Gators in the spring of 2027, the team announced Friday.
Richards, who is 23 and will be turning 24 in December, will only compete for the Gators for one semester, he confirmed to SwimSwam.
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“We have been talking to Matt for a long time—but we finally worked it out,” said Florida head coach Anthony Nesty. “He is a great athlete and an even better person. He will improve all aspects of our team immediately. We will welcome him and his wife Emily to Gainesville this spring. Go Gators!”
Richards is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, having won back-to-back golds on the British men’s 4×200 freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and then the Paris Games in 2024.
In Paris, he also won individual silver in the men’s 200 free, finishing just two one-hundredths shy of gold medalist David Popovici in a time of 1:44.74.
Richards set his personal best time in the long course 200 free one year earlier at the 2023 World Championships, when he roared to an upset gold medal in a time of 1:44.30.
He also won gold on the British men’s 4×200 free relay at the 2023 Worlds, and then led off the team that reclaimed the world title in the 4×200 free relay last summer in Singapore.
Most recently, Richards represented Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and then just over two weeks later, swam for Great Britain at the European Championships.
At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Richards won a pair of individual silver medals in the men’s 100 and 200 free, and added a pair of relay bronze medals for the Welsh team.
At Euros, Richards won a pair of gold medals on the British men’s and mixed 4×200 free relays, while individually, he placed 16th in the 100 free.
The Worcestershire native said Florida legend Caeleb Dressel was the impetus behind him wanting to race for Florida.
“Watching Caeleb Dressel race for Florida is what first made me want to be a Gator, and I’ve followed this team ever since,” Richards said. “I’m close with a lot of the guys on the squad, so getting to race alongside them at SECs and NCAAs and help chase a national title is something I never thought I’d get the chance to do. I can’t wait to get out there and get started.”
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