GB's Hudson-Smith wins historic 400m gold on home track
The 31-year-old British sprinter claims his third European 400m title at his childhood stadium in Birmingham, equaling a historic medal milestone.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Matthew Hudson-Smith secured the men's 400m gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
- He crossed the finish line in 44.17 seconds, beating France's Muhammad Abdallah Kounta.
- The victory marks his eighth career medal at the European Championships, equaling Christophe Lemaitre's record.
British track star Matthew Hudson-Smith delivered an unforgettable moment in front of his home crowd, claiming the men's 400m gold medal at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. For the 31-year-old athlete, competing on the very track where he first started training at the age of nine—framed by a northern stand named in his honor—was the ultimate full-circle milestone more than two decades in the making.
Entering the competition as the fastest European runner of the year, Hudson-Smith admitted to misjudging his semi-final heat after finishing second, which forced him to chase glory from the outside lane in the final. Despite the disadvantage, he powered down the home straight with a commanding lead, sealing the victory in 44.17 seconds. Frenchman Muhammad Abdallah Kounta followed closely to secure silver with a time of 44.40 seconds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This emotional triumph serves as major redemption for Hudson-Smith, who narrowly missed out on global titles by fractions of a second at both the 2023 World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Securing gold on his home turf not only relieves immense competitive pressure but also cements his status among Europe's greatest quarter-milers.
This latest triumph marks Hudson-Smith's third individual European 400m title since his debut silver medal back in 2014. With his eighth career podium finish at the championships, he equaled French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre's all-time men's record medal tally. Furthermore, he joined British athletics greats Mo Farah and Roger Black on five career gold medals, while matching Dina Asher-Smith as one of the most decorated British athletes in the event's history.
"Nobody was going to beat me on this track. This is my home. I know this track like the back of my hand. I have my stand. Now I'm going to go for Mayor of Birmingham and Wolverhampton!"
Matthew Hudson-Smith
Reflecting on the emotional victory during BBC TV's broadcast, three-time world heptathlon champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill noted that the immense pressure piled onto the local hero meant that anything less than a gold medal would have felt like a disappointment for the British star.
Source: BBC Sport
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