Matt Hudson-Smith achieved a remarkable feat at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham by clinching his third European Championship 400m title, becoming the first man to accomplish this milestone. The 31-year-old delivered an impressive performance before a supportive home crowd, finishing the race in 44.17 seconds. Positioned in lane nine, Hudson-Smith set a brisk pace from the outset and managed to hold onto his lead despite a slight slowdown towards the end.
In the race, France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta secured the silver medal with a time of 44.40 seconds, closely followed by Netherlands’ Jonas Phijffers, who earned the bronze in a national-record time of 44.41 seconds. Having grown up in the Birmingham area and trained at the very stadium where he achieved this victory, Hudson-Smith expressed that winning on this familiar track held special significance for him.
Besides Hudson-Smith’s triumph, Britain celebrated another success in the women’s 400m hurdles. Emily Newnham showcased a strong finish to claim the silver medal, achieving a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds. Emma Zapletalova of Slovakia took the gold with a time of 52.91 seconds, while Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo secured the bronze, setting a national record with her time of 53.55 seconds.