Matt Hudson-Smith etched his name in the record books at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium by clinching his third European Championship 400m title, a feat no other man has achieved. The 31-year-old delivered a commanding performance to secure victory in front of his home fans, completing the race in 44.17 seconds. Positioned in lane nine, Hudson-Smith set an aggressive pace from the start, which proved decisive despite a slight slowdown towards the finish.
Trailing Hudson-Smith, France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta claimed the silver medal with a time of 44.40 seconds. Meanwhile, Jonas Phijffers from the Netherlands captured the bronze, setting a national record with his time of 44.41 seconds. Hudson-Smith, who has trained at the Birmingham venue since his youth, expressed the special significance of winning on his home track.
The success for Britain continued with another medal in the women’s 400m hurdles. Emily Newnham put in an impressive performance, securing the silver medal with a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova took home the gold, finishing in 52.91 seconds, while Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo earned the bronze, setting a national record with her time of 53.55 seconds.
