Cyclist Matthew Richardson says he kept his defection to Great Britain secret to protect Australian coaches and teammates from carrying a burden at the Olympics.
Richardson won three medals at the Paris Games for Australia, then days later stunned the sport's hierarchy by announcing his move to Great Britain.
The English-born 25-year-old may be stood down from international racing for two years by world cycling's governing body, the UCI, under a non-competition clause.
"Missing big international competitions isn't obviously ideal, but I think that's why I had to do it when I did it, so I missed the least amount of them possible," Richardson told the ABC on Wednesday.
Richardson lodged his switch of allegiance with the UCI months before the Paris Olympics, where he won two silver medals and a bronze.
He kept his move secret from Australian officials, coaches and teammates.
"It's hard when you have to keep information like that from your friends and teammates," Richardson said.
"So yeah, it was really hard, but I didn't want them to have the burden of having that and keeping that under wraps themselves."
AusCycling's hierarchy has expressed disappointment and surprise at Richardson's switch.
"I obviously understood that there would be a bit of bitterness around this decision," Richardson said.
"But (at) the end of the day it's my career and it's my life.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's up to me whether I want to listen to it or not, and I've obviously chosen not to.
"It's a free world and they can do and say what they like.
"I'm happy with the decision I have made."
Richardson was born in Maidstone, England, moved to Australia with his family when aged nine, and started cycling in his teens.
He won under-19 Australian titles in 2017 and made his first national team the same year at the junior track world championships.
Richardson was elevated to Australian cycling's academy cohort in 2018 and continued rising through the ranks.
"The investment that was put into me over the last few years in Australian cycling, I feel like I made a good return on that investment, winning two silver medals and a bronze medal at the Olympic Games for Australia," Richardson said.
