THE family of Team GB star Matt Richards were scammed out of thousands after buying fake tickets.
Richards, 21, narrowly missed out on gold in last night’s 200m freestyle.
The swimmer fell short by just 0.02 seconds – the same margin Adam Peaty lost by in the 100m breaststroke.
Richards’ agony in the pool was not the only nightmare suffered by his family in Paris.
His mum Amanda revealed before the start of the Olympics that she had been “completely duped” after spending £2,500 on fake tickets to watch her son compete.
They had entered the official ticket ballot – but only the most expensive seats remained by their time to buy.
The family found an alternative website that looked “perfectly legitimate” before realising their mistake when confirmation emails dropped into their inbox.
Amanda told the BBC: “We’re just a normal working family, we don’t have that kind of that money.
“We couldn’t afford to buy tickets for everything he’s swimming in but we wanted to be there for sort of the important ones, the semis and the finals, so we bought tickets for five evening events.
“I started getting emails asking me for my nominal details – they kept repeatedly coming and asking for those nominal details.
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“We don’t have masses of savings. We just don’t have the money to be able to just buy another set of tickets.
“We’re devastated. I was really upset. I feel like a fool.”
Richards criticised Olympic chiefs on social media before the start of the Games, saying: “It’s time they support the families of people competing by giving them tickets to events.
“Seeing your family or friends compete at the Olympic Games shouldn’t be reserved for the people that have thousands to spare.”
It is unclear whether his family were in the stands last night to watch him claim silver and if they will be at any of his other races in Paris.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
The Paris 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Alex Yee is desperate to go one better than his Tokyo triathlon silver medal now the Seine has the green light (7am).
The Team GB 4x200m men’s freestyle swimming squad are packed with talent and could be in for gold (8.59pm).
And the women’s gymnastics team could also get a podium finish but it’s a strong field including Simone Biles’ USA (5.15pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kieran Reilly and Charlotte Worthington get underway in the freestyle BMX qualifiers (12.25pm).
Joe Clarke and Mallory Franklin are both in canoe slalom action, while the men’s hockey side face top-dogs the Netherlands.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flag for France at the opening ceremony.
She can back that up with a third Olympic judo gold in the -63kg final (4.49pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the rugby sevens for this Olympics, ending with the final at the 70,000-seater Stade de France at 6.45pm.
And the street-style 3×3 basketball gets underway at the spectacular La Concorde venue at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees in the heart of the city.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
