Matthew Richardson takes silver in men’s sprint final at 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Australia’s Matthew Richardson has been taken down by the greatest track cycling sprinter that has ever lived but that doesn’t mean he’s given up on another shot at the 2028 LA Games.

Netherlands' Harrie Lavreysen and Australia's Matthew Richardson compete in the men's track cycling sprint final race 2 for gold of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, south-west of Paris, on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

Australia’s Matthew Richardson has been taken down by the greatest track cycling sprinter that has ever lived.

That’s the opinion of head coach Scott Gardner, who believes Richardson is on a trajectory that can deliver the Paris silver medallist a prized-gold medal that he desperately craves.

Richardson was pipped by reigning five-times world champion Harrie Lavreysen, the undisputed king of track cycling from The Netherlands in the men’s sprint gold medal race.

In the best of three sprints around the National Velodrome in Paris, Lavreysen claimed gold by winning the first two races by 0.24-seconds and 0.47-seconds respectively.

“You’ve just seen the greatest ever sprinter,’’ Australian team acceleration coach Scott Gardner said.

Netherlands' Harrie Lavreysen won ahead of Matthew Richardson. Picture: AFP

“Harry Lavreysen, the fastest sprinter, the fastest man that ever lived.

“Hats off to Matt Richardson, how far he’s come in the last four years.

“(He’s) becoming that consistent sprinter who’s going to be there to challenge for many years to come, as long as he wants to, up until Brisbane or around that time.

A physically-spent Richardson closed his eyes after crossing the finish line after the defining second race, the reality of just how close he came to snatching gold written all over his face.

“I put my best foot forward, I didn’t leave anything out on the track,’’ Richardson, 25, said.

“Harry’s a really tough opponent, he’s one of the greatest sprinters we’ve ever seen on this planet.

“It wasn’t that many years ago where I was looking up at Harry and just in awe of the gap... he was so much better than everyone else.

Matthew Richardson was up against the defending champion and couldn't push it to a decider. Picture: Getty Images

“To be within a few inches of beating him at the highest level in the world is a great achievement for me and I’ll use this as motivation to come back stronger next time....LA (2028), for sure.

“It’s easy to use him as a target in the future, I’m extremely proud of the silver.’’

Lavreysen’s praise after the race for Richardson said everything about the West Australian’s trajectory.

“I haven’t been beaten a lot in the last three or four years and if I was beaten, it was by Matthew,” Lavreysen said.

“Seeing him in the final, it was hard. I expected it to be hard - we (finished) really close.

“He performed crazy-well ... a lot of respect to him. He was the best opponent to have in the Olympic final.”

Matthew Richardson hugs his family after being beaten in the final. Picture: Michael Klein

The mentally and physically draining race of cat and mouse was played out in front of a wild atmosphere inside the Olympic venue.

The West Australian’s Olympic silver medal is the greatest achievement of his career and continues the Australian cycling’s team’s best medal haul at a Games since Athens 2004.

Having already claimed bronze in the team sprint, Richardson will back-up following his silver in the men’s sprint to compete in the keirin, where he will strive to again finish on the podium.

Team sprint teammate Matthew Glaetzer will also contest the keirin.

Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast talent Kristina Clonan continued her impressive transition from endurance to sprint riding by advancing to the last round of eight in the women’s sprint.

Originally published as Matthew Richardson takes silver in men’s sprint final at 2024 Paris Olympic Games