Natalie Richards: Australians’ right to feel betrayed by Matt Richardson after cheering for him in Olympics

I always joke that being a British-Australian dual national means I can support Australia in swimming and Britain in running in the Olympic Games.

It now appears Matthew Richardson has gone a step further — he wants to represent both nations.

After his defection to the UK, just a week after cycling for Australia at the Olympic Games, many Aussies are feeling rightly betrayed.

How dare he bugger off to the mother country so soon after we celebrated him as one of our own?

Richardson has spoken of it being his “dream” to race for Great Britain “from now on”.

While my sporting prowess ended at the egg and spoon race, as a dual national myself, I can relate to that certain pang for the place I grew up.

There comes a point where you never really feel like you fit in in either country and it can be sobering going “home” to find those at home now consider you a “foreigner”.

For all ex-pats, there comes a point where you have to pick a side — either lean into being an Aussie or risk feeling like you never really fit in anywhere.

It’s not a case of “fit in or f..k off” as they say on Holden Commodore bumper stickers, it’s about making this place your home, as much for your sake as anyone else’s.

I waited a while to get my Aussie citizenship. I wanted to take the pledge knowing that I was going to make this place my home. Effectively, on that day, I picked a side.

And by wearing the green and gold on an Olympic stage, Richardson picked a side. We barracked for him.

While nobody can deny the lad needs to follow his heart and chase his “dream”, you can’t sing Advance Australia Fair one week and then expect it’s going to be fine when you’re wearing the Union Jack the next.