European Athletics Championships 2026: Matthew Hudson-Smith wins historic 400m gold

Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith wrote his name in history as the joint-most decorated man of all-time at European Championships by claiming a dominant 400m gold on his childhood track in Birmingham.

Storming down the home straight to rapturous cheers inside the stadium where he trained as a junior, and which now has a stand bearing his name, Hudson-Smith raced clear to complete a golden treble in the event following success in 2018 and 2022.

Crossing the line in 44.17 seconds, the 31-year-old secured his eighth podium at the championships to equal French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre's men's record medal tally.

Handling the weight of expectation on his shoulders, the local lad-turned-global star walked up into the north stand to place a hand on the banner displaying his name after delivering for his home crowd - two decades after he joined local club Birchfield Harriers at the age of 10.

It is 12 years since Hudson-Smith won the first of his European Championship medals, claiming 400m silver on his debut in 2014.

Since then he has dealt only in golds in his individual event at this level, alongside two 4x400m relay titles.

With this latest triumph, Hudson-Smith joined British greats Mo Farah and Roger Black on five golds, while matching Dina Asher-Smith as the most decorated British athlete in the history of the championships.

It was Great Britain's third gold of the championships, while Emily Newnham added the hosts' sixth medal overall with silver in the women's 400m hurdles final shortly after Hudson-Smith's victory.