Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith missed out on Olympic 400m gold by four-hundredths of a second in a dramatic finish at Paris 2024.
The 29-year-old improved his European record to 43.44 seconds but was pipped on the line by American Quincy Hall, who triumphed in a personal best 43.40 in a thrilling conclusion.
It was another agonising near-miss on a global stage for Hudson-Smith, who went within 0.09secs of the world title 12 months ago.
Hudson-Smith, who was favourite for gold as the fastest man in the world in 2024, becomes the first Briton to make the men’s 400m podium at a Games in 28 years.
Victory would have made him GB’s first male Olympic 400m champion since Eric Liddell 100 years ago – a success immortalised in Chariots of Fire – but he fell just short.
However, this was another outstanding performance by Hudson-Smith and he was denied gold only by a sensational finish from Hall, who chased down his rivals in the closing stages.
The Wolverhampton man held the lead coming in to the home straight but was unable to hold out as Hall fought his way from third to first.
Hudson-Smith put three years of “absolute hell” behind him to win world bronze in 2022, before going so close to his first global triumph in Budapest last year.
Silver at the Stade de France will have brought a mixture of emotions given his determination to win gold – but he will be undoubtedly proud of his journey.
“It is just the start really. Time to build,” Hudson-Smith, who is now the fifth fastest 400m runner in history, told BBC Sport.
“I’m healthy. My time is going to come, it is only a matter of time.”
Zambian 21-year-old Muzala Samukonga took bronze in 43.74, as five athletes ran under 44 seconds in the same race for the first time.
