Matt Hudson-Smith made a remarkable mark at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, clinching his third European Championship 400m title, a feat never before achieved by any man. In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the 31-year-old displayed an impressive performance by finishing the race in 44.17 seconds. Starting from lane nine, Hudson-Smith set a brisk pace right from the beginning and managed to hold onto his lead, despite a slight decline as he neared the finish line.
The competition saw France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta securing second place with a time of 44.40 seconds, while Jonas Phijffers from the Netherlands earned the bronze medal, setting a national record with his 44.41-second finish. Hudson-Smith, who has deep roots in the Birmingham area and has trained at the stadium since he was a child, expressed that winning on his home track added a special significance to his victory.
In another highlight for Britain, the women’s 400m hurdles delivered a thrilling finish with Emily Newnham claiming silver. She achieved a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds, showcasing a strong finish. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova took home the gold, crossing the line in 52.91 seconds, while Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo captured bronze with a national-record time of 53.55 seconds.