At Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, Matt Hudson-Smith achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first man to clinch three European Championship titles in the 400m event. The 31-year-old athlete delivered a commanding performance in front of his home crowd, completing the race in 44.17 seconds. Starting from lane nine, Hudson-Smith established a strong early lead and managed to hold onto his advantage, even as he slightly faded in the final stretch.
In a competitive race, France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta secured the silver medal with a time of 44.40 seconds. The Netherlands’ Jonas Phijffers captured the bronze, setting a national record with his time of 44.41 seconds. Hudson-Smith, who has been training at the Birmingham stadium since his childhood, expressed that winning on his home turf made the victory particularly special.
The success for Britain continued in the women’s 400m hurdles, where Emily Newnham delivered an impressive performance to earn a silver medal. Newnham finished with a personal-best time of 53.33 seconds. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova claimed the gold with a time of 52.91 seconds, while Portugal’s Fatoumata Binta Diallo took bronze, also setting a national record at 53.55 seconds.
Hudson-Smith’s achievement not only highlights his personal accomplishments but also underscores the strong presence of British athletes at the European Championships. The event saw fierce competition, with athletes delivering record-breaking performances and personal bests. For Hudson-Smith, competing and winning at the stadium where he grew up training added an emotional layer to his historic win.
Meanwhile, Newnham’s silver in the hurdles further emphasizes the depth and talent in British athletics, showcasing the country’s strength in track events. Both Hudson-Smith and Newnham’s performances contributed to a memorable day for British athletics fans, witnessing history being made on familiar grounds.