Meet Matthew Hudson-Smith, Team GB’s 400m Paris 2024 Olympics hopeful who holds European record
MATTHEW HUDSON-SMITH will represent Team GB in his third Olympic games in Paris.
SunSport has the lowdown on the elite sprinter and when he is competing this summer.
Who is Matthew Hudson-Smith?
Born October 26, 1994, in Wolverhampton, sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith is one of the best 400m runners on the planet.
The 29-year-old holds the European record for 400m after running 44.07 at the Bislett Games in May 2024.
Hudson-Smith broke his own record of 44.26 that he initially set at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
He made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and was due to compete at Tokyo 2020 but missed out due to injury.
Since the last Olympics, Hudson-Smith has won two World Championship medals and a Commonwealth Games silver and he will be looking to add to his collection in Paris.
After winning bronze in the 400m at the 2022 World Athletics Championship, Hudson-Smith revealed that he had struggled with mental health issues in 2021.
Hudson Smith explained: “I had huge mental health issues in 2021,” he said after winning his medal in Eugene.
“Not a lot of people know this, but I literally attempted suicide.”
Hudson-Smith went through a tough period where he lost sponsors, suffered long-term injuries, felt the isolation of living away from family during the Covid pandemic and had significant medical bills, which all took their toll on the athlete’s mental health.
In 2022, he was signed by Puma, which helped him clear his debts and provide Matt the funding he needed to train full-time.
With a sponsor on side, it lifted Hudson-Smith to pick up bronze at the World Championships in Eugene before claiming silver at the Commonwealth Games that very same year.
In 2023, the elite sprinter claimed silver at the World Championships in Budapest with an incredible time of 44.31.
Now, Hudson-Smith is eyeing the chance for a major championship gold in Paris.
Matthew Hudson-Smith’s full list of honours
Here are Hudson-Smith’s career honours so far:
- 1x World Championships Silver medallist
- 4x European champion
- 2x World Championships Bronze medallist
- 2x European Championships Silver medallist
- 1x Commonwealth Games winner
- 1x In Top 8 at Olympic Games
- 3x Diamond League meeting winner
- 6x National champion
- 1x Current European Record holder – 400m
- 1x European Championships Bronze medallist
- 1x Commonwealth Games Silver medallist
- 2x European U20 Championships Bronze medallist
- 1x In Top 8 at World (Continental) Cup
When will Matthew Hudson-Smith be competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics?
- Hudson Smith will contest the Men’s 400m for Team GB at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
- The race will take place on Wednesday, August 7, at the Stade de France.