One was born on Reunion Island and, with dreadlocks and a perpetual smile, he won the hearts of France and all those with whom he shared a team, a winner by nature. The other, from Marseille by birth, is somewhat more timid and calm, a winner by conviction. Jackson Richardson, 54, played 417 games for the French national team – more than any other in history -, won two world titles, also a Champions League with Portland San Antonio (2001), and was the Olympic standard bearer for the rooster team. in 2004 in addition to being the first Frenchman to win the IHF player of the year award in 1995. Melvyn Richardson, his 27-year-old son, has already won gold at the Tokyo Games (2020), as well as in the Past European, winner of the Champions League twice (in 2018 with Montpellier and 2022 with Barça). He now also has the Cup as he did last year, Barça success by beating Bathco Torrelavega (23-36) in the final [y ya son 11 consecutivas]a new notch for a team that is just one step away from achieving its full potential, since next week it will play the European Final Four in Cologne.
Melvyn was born in Marseille but a few months later he moved to Germany to accompany his father on his adventure with Grosswallstadt. Three years later, he arrived in Pamplona, in Larragueta, where he still has friends from school, with whom he meets every time he plays there through Facebook or Instagram. It was there where he became immersed in handball, as it was not uncommon to see him sitting on the Portland bench next to the doctor or even wandering around the locker room amidst slaps and gestures of complicity from Jackson’s teammates. “Although at that time I only thought I was accompanying my father to work. The normal thing is that he would pick up any ball and pull me aside to entertain me,” he remembers. Any sport would work for him, because he tried futsal, tennis, judo, swimming… Until he returned to Chambéry (France) and, infected by the enthusiasm of his class friends, he joined the team. of handball. “I wanted to be with them and I loved traveling by minibus. I wanted to have fun and my father was not invasive at all, because he let me discover the sport on my own, even though he sometimes gave me technical advice,” he resolves in perfect Spanish, an inheritance from his past.
It happened, however, that he was great at it and burned stages at breakneck speed, to the point that he had to combine professional handball with school, required by his parents to pass the courses to continue on the court. And soon the comparisons came. “Many people talked and examined me as if I were my father, but I never had negative pressure but rather I knew how to see it as something positive. It was a great motivation to show with my work that I could also leave my name,” he agrees; “I have fought a lot to reach the high level, I have always been very demanding. I know I’m here because I deserve it.”
Advised by his father in sports and by his mother (Danièle) in career management – his little sister Ilina also tried but preferred to travel and live a student life – Melvyn made a place for himself in the elite with Chambèry to later sign for Montpellier and reach the top. In 2021 he called Barça. “There are calls that you cannot refuse. “It is the best club in the world and I wanted to help write part of this story,” he slips, while remembering that he is in talks with the club to renew (the contract ends in 2025), which is his first option, although everything will depend on the talks.
Barcelona’s top scorer during the course, also a specialist in penalties, Melvyn acts as a full-back although on occasions he also plays as a centre-back. His versatility and skill make him a fixture for Ortega, also for the national team. “It would be a dream to return to the Games,” he notes modestly; “because my father – a member of the French Olympic Committee – will be there, and because it will be an incredible party.” He remembers, however, that first there is the Champions League, the duel against Kiel in the semifinal and then, after winning, the final match against Aalborg or Magdeburg. In the stands, he imagines, will be Jackson. It will be more difficult for his wife to be there, since they had a daughter about four months ago, just the day France was playing in the European final. Melvyn chose to see Hoanie born. “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made, living that experience was unforgettable,” he says while she gives thanks because she made them sleepy.
Passionate about cooking – he shows his chest when he prepares Reunion Island specialties – and a devourer of series, he is also a staunch fan of Olympique de Marseille – “we have the best fans in the world”, he proudly expresses -, Melvyn continues to carry the Jackson surname to the utmost top of handball. “We still don’t joke with my father about each other’s careers, but when I finish mine and see what I’ve achieved, we’ll see…” he says, amused. Maybe he can tell you that in one year he won everything with Barça, having already won the Asobal Cup, the Copa del Rey, the Super Cup and the League, only pending the Champions League.
You can follow Morning Express Deportes in Facebook and xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.
.
.
_
