Hudson-Smith Secures Third European 400m Title as Britain Hosts Championships for First Time
Matthew Hudson-Smith claims historic gold in Birmingham, matching Dina Asher-Smith’s record, while Romell Glave and Amy Hunt add sprint victories to Great Britain’s medal tally.
Matthew Hudson-Smith has secured his third European Championship gold medal in the 400m, cementing his status as a dominant force in British sprinting. The victory was achieved at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, an event that marks the first time Great Britain has hosted the championships in their 92-year history.
Hudson-Smith’s win brings him level with Dina Asher-Smith as the most decorated British athlete in the history of the European Championships. His performance in Birmingham underscores the depth of talent within the home nation’s squad as they compete on their own soil.
The host nation’s success was bolstered earlier in the programme by sprint victories from Romell Glave and Amy Hunt. Glave claimed the men’s 100m title with a time of 10.09 seconds, while Hunt secured the women’s 100m gold. These results contributed to a strong showing for Great Britain, which also saw Jeremiah Azu finish second in the men’s 100m final with a time of 10.16 seconds.
Further medals were added to the British tally when Emily Newnham won silver in the women’s 400m hurdles shortly after Hudson-Smith’s victory. This result brought the host nation’s total medal count to six, highlighting the competitive advantage of home support during the championships.
Other notable British athletes, including Keely Hodgkinson, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and Georgia Hunter Bell, were among those with medal hopes during the event. The championships also saw the withdrawal of Italian sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs from the men’s 100m final due to injury, while Owen Ansah took bronze in the same event.
