Richardson fractured his spine and broke his pelvis and breastbone when he was hit by motorist Edward Howell Adams on the A48 near Bridgend in August 2011, and although he has undergone a series of operations on his back since, he requires additional surgery due to complications with his spine.

The 48-year-old is looking to take part in a charity ride from Paris to Swansea from August 13 to 17, and is therefore hoping to have the procedure carried out privately early this year to allow him enough time to recuperate.

"Pre-accident I've gone from 500 miles a week down to at the moment maybe 10 miles a month," Richardson told ITV Wales in an interview.

"It's when I can feel totally out of pain and enough to get on the bike and ride it.

"I've had multiple operations...my back put back together because it's broken in about seven places, and it's been recovering so we thought, but of recent months I've had a couple of lower discs start to collapse."

Simon Richardson was unable to defend his Olympic title at London 2012 ©Getty Images



Richardson, who also sustained a collapsed lung and perforated bowel as a result of the incident in 2011, is wary of the risks attached to the operation but remains upbeat about making the necessary recovery in time.

"Best scenario is I wake up from the operation, I move my legs, I start physio almost straight away, I get back on the bike within two months and I'm riding Paris to Swansea," he added.

"Otherwise I live with pain for the next 50 odd years.

"And I just can't do that."

Richardson was left permanently disabled in 2001 when he was involved in a serious crash with a car while out with friends from a cycling club.

He continued cycling to help with his rehabilitation, and was made a Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) after going on to win two golds and a silver medal at Beijing 2008. 

Adams, a farmer from the Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for 18 months in August 2012 and banned from driving for five years after he was convicted of dangerous driving and failing to stop.

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