Matt Hudson-Smith etched his name in the history books at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, becoming the first man to clinch three consecutive European Championship titles in the 400m. Competing on familiar turf and in front of a supportive hometown crowd, the 31-year-old showcased an extraordinary performance, completing the race in 44.17 seconds. Despite a slight deceleration towards the end, his strong start, particularly from lane nine, secured his triumph.
Trailing Hudson-Smith, France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta claimed the silver medal, clocking 44.40 seconds. The race for bronze was equally thrilling, with the Netherlands’ Jonas Phijffers finishing in 44.41 seconds, setting a national record in the process.
For Hudson-Smith, the victory was laden with emotion, as the stadium holds personal significance. He has trained there since his youth, making this achievement on home soil particularly poignant.
Britain’s success extended to the women’s 400m hurdles, where Emily Newnham delivered a commendable performance, securing the silver medal with a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds. The gold medal went to Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova, who completed the race in 52.91 seconds. Meanwhile, Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo earned the bronze, setting a national record with her finish time of 53.55 seconds.