Career
He emerged at the international level in 2006, swimming at the Commonwealth games. He has captured multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, as well as world and Commonwealth records. During this period he was coached by Vince Raleigh.
In 2009, he was Australian Institute of Sport Athlete of the Year.
He arrived in Beijing as a medal contender and a serious threat for the gold medal in all three of his events. He set Australian, Commonwealth and Oceanic records, capturing silver medals in the 200-metre breaststroke and 4×100-metre medley relay, and finished 5th in the 100-metre breaststroke.
Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China:
200-metre breaststroke. 4×100-metre medley relay.
(5th) 100-metre breaststroke.
Rickard"s first World Championships were a good one, consistently capturing medals in all of his pet events. Number Australian records were set, however his status in the world rankings leapfrogged. 2007 in Melbourne, Australia:
200-metre breaststroke.
100-metre breaststroke.
4×100-metre medley relay. 2009 in Rome, Italy:
100-metre breaststroke.
4×100-metre medley relay. (5th) 200-metre breaststroke.