After Josh Kerr’s narrow loss in the 1500 meters the previous night, it was Matthew Hudson-Smith’s turn to face a gut-wrenching defeat.
The 29-year-old athlete had a night to remember at the Stade de France, setting a new European record with an impressive time of 43.44 seconds. Despite his stellar performance, Hudson-Smith missed out on gold by a mere 0.04 seconds.
Quincy Hall’s incredible final push stole the victory from him, denying Hudson-Smith what would have been Britain’s first global men’s 400 meters title in a century.
Hudson-Smith, who has overcome significant personal struggles including a suicide attempt in 2021, was visibly emotional after the race. His mother, Cheryl, comforted him in the stands, gently wiping away his tears.
In a poignant moment, Hudson-Smith reflected on his journey, saying, “Sometimes the journey is better than the outcome, and it has been a hell of a journey.”
He was surprised and moved to see his family there, proud of his achievements despite the rough path he has walked.
Looking Ahead
Matching his silver medal from last year’s World Championships, Hudson-Smith was initially stunned by the loss but remained optimistic. He expressed that while he’s been the “bridesmaid” twice, he’s determined to keep improving.
“I am just going to keep building on it and shock the world,” he vowed.
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In other news, Amber Anning secured a spot in the women’s 400 meters final with a personal best time of 49.47 seconds, finishing second in her semi-final.
Tonight, Noah Lyles will compete for his second gold medal in the men’s 200 meters final, qualifying third fastest behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and his teammate Kenny Bednarek.