Matt Hudson-Smith achieved a historic milestone at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium by securing his third European Championship title in the men’s 400m event. The 31-year-old athlete delivered a commanding performance to claim victory with a time of 44.17 seconds, becoming the first man to accomplish this feat. Starting from lane nine, Hudson-Smith set an early lead and, despite a slight slowdown towards the end, managed to maintain his front-running position.
In a fiercely competitive race, France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta took the silver with a time of 44.40 seconds, while Jonas Phijffers from the Netherlands earned the bronze, setting a national record of 44.41 seconds. Hudson-Smith, a native of the Birmingham area who has honed his skills at the stadium since childhood, expressed that winning on such familiar ground added a special significance to his victory.
The success for Britain extended beyond the men’s 400m, as the women’s 400m hurdles also saw a strong performance. Emily Newnham delivered an impressive finish to secure a silver medal with a personal best of 53.33 seconds. The gold medal in this event was claimed by Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova, who completed the race in 52.91 seconds. Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo earned the bronze, setting a new national record with a time of 53.55 seconds.
Hudson-Smith’s triumph at the European Championships is a testament to his resilience and dedication, particularly as it unfolded in front of a supportive home crowd. His achievement marks a significant chapter in his career and adds to the prestige of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium as a venue that fosters athletic excellence. Meanwhile, Newnham’s personal best and silver medal spotlight her as a rising talent in track and field, contributing to Britain’s overall success at the event.