Richard grew up in Brooklyn as a first-generation Latvian immigrant and started swimming when he was six-years-old. His passion for competitive swimming started around 8 years old and developed on numerous clubs teams like Brighton Seals, Storm, Matchpoint, and his high school swim team at Leon M. Goldstein. At Leon M. Goldstein High School, in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Richard also played water polo and swam all four years. Following his competitive career, he went on to work as a lifeguard at Coney Island for 2 years and was soon teaching lessons - which reignited his passion for the sport as he shared techniques and skills with the next generation. In his free time, he likes to longboard, listen to all types of music, and hang out with his peers