Matt Hudson-Smith achieved a remarkable feat at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium by claiming his third European Championship title in the 400m event. In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the 31-year-old delivered a commanding performance, completing the race in 44.17 seconds. Hudson-Smith, who started in lane nine, established an early lead and managed to hold on, despite slightly losing momentum towards the end.
France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta claimed the silver medal with a time of 44.40 seconds, while the Netherlands’ Jonas Phijffers took home the bronze, setting a new national record with his 44.41 seconds finish. Hudson-Smith, a native of the Birmingham area who has trained at the stadium since he was a child, expressed that winning on his home turf held special significance for him.
In addition to Hudson-Smith’s victory, Great Britain celebrated another podium finish in the women’s 400m hurdles. Emily Newnham secured a silver medal with a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova captured the gold with a time of 52.91 seconds, while Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo earned the bronze, also setting a national record with her time of 53.55 seconds.
The atmosphere at the Alexander Stadium was electric as Hudson-Smith made history, and his achievement was a highlight of the championships. The local hero’s success added to the excitement for British fans, who also cheered on Newnham’s impressive performance in the hurdles.
Both athletes’ accomplishments underscored the depth of talent present in British track and field, with Hudson-Smith’s historic win and Newnham’s personal best marking a memorable day for the home team at the European Championships.