Hudson-Smith wins 400m gold at European Championships in Birmingham

British sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith delivered a dominant performance to win the men's 400m final at the European Athletics Championships on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, securing his third individual continental title on his home track in Birmingham. The 31-year-old, running from the outside lane nine at Alexander Stadium, crossed the line in 44.17 seconds to claim gold, holding off France's Muhammad Abdallah Kounta, who took silver in 44.40 seconds. Jonas Phijffers of the Netherlands finished third in a national record time of 44.41 seconds.

The victory was a deeply emotional moment for the Wolverhampton-born athlete, who has trained at the venue since joining local club Birchfield Harriers at the age of nine. A stand at the stadium was named in his honour for the championships, and Hudson-Smith celebrated by running into it to greet family and friends. "Honestly, words can't describe how much that meant to me," he told BBC Sport. "Nobody was going to beat me on this track. This is my home. I know this track like the back of my hand."

Hudson-Smith's win cemented his legacy as the most decorated male athlete in European Championships history. His eighth career medal at the...