Colchester's Lewis Richardson enjoys homecoming event at pub

Richardson, 27, attended a special homecoming event at The Silver Oyster Pub in Colchester on Sunday to celebrate his superb performance for Team GB.

The light middleweight boxer returned from the Paris 2024 Games with a bronze medal, only narrowly missing out on getting to the final.

Medallist - Colchester's Lewis Richardson came back from Paris 2024 with a bronze medal for boxing (Image: Seana Hughes)

The event welcomed "a couple of hundred" people for an afternoon of celebration to mark the newly-crowned Olympic medallist's success in Paris.

Peter Gibbins landlord at the Silver Oyster pub said: “You don’t get very many homegrown Olympic winners, and so it was very great to celebrate with him.

“He is a local lad, we are familiar with him, and this gave us the community, the people of Colchester, a chance to show their appreciation.”

Richardson narrowly missed out on the final, losing to Mexico’s Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez in the Men’s 71KG Semi-Final.

He was the only one of six British boxers to get through to the second round, preventing Team GB’s first boxing wipe-out since 1996.

Family - Lewis Richardson with his dad and brother (Image: Seana Hughes)

On the homecoming event, Lewis said: “It was an honour to have so many people turn up and attend my homecoming celebration that was organised by my wonderful girlfriend Lucy.

“Thank you to everyone that has attended, as well as everyone who sent their messages of support throughout the Olympic Games.”

Lewis now plans to turn pro and fight for world titles on the back of his Olympic medal.

“I’m a little bit sad to be leaving because GB Boxing and the World Class Programme have provided me with so much and supported me so much,” he said.

“I’m very grateful for everything they have done, the opportunities and the way I’ve embraced it, especially in the last year.”

Lewis added: “I’ll be aiming for world titles because I believe I’m one of the best amateurs in the world and I can translate that into being one of the best professionals in the world."