Matthew Hudson-Smith, a 29-year-old from Wolverhampton, qualified for Wednesday night’s 400-meter final at Stade de France with a dominant semi-final performance. He started chasing down his rivals right away and led by a few meters at the finish, flying toward the finish in 44.07 before appearing to slow down as he approached and pumping his fist after finishing first. This is Hudson-Smith’s second Olympic final.
He claimed his first major medal with world bronze in 2022, then upgraded to silver at last year’s world championships in Budapest
The other British contender, Charlie Dobson, did not make it past the first round of semi-finals. The 24-year-old led the pack into the back stretch at one point, but he eventually lost it and had to dig deep to come back and finish fourth in 44.48. Heartbreakingly, Lina Nielsen’s Olympic career ended when she stumbled at the last hurdle in her 400-meter hurdle semi-final. The 28-year-old was involved in a late tussle for third place and had a chance to secure an automatic berth if she finished in the top two, but she ultimately ruled herself out.
Laviai, Nielsen’s twin sister, competed for Great Britain in the 4×400-meter mixed relay squad and won bronze on Saturday.
Jessie Knight, who placed sixth in her semi-final, also withdrew from the picture. Femke Bol, the Dutch world champion, won that group in 52.57 seconds, setting up her highly anticipated matchup with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States, the reigning Olympic champion and the quickest of the semifinalist in 52.13. The medal presentation ceremony for Monday night’s medallists, which included British 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, marked the beginning of the evening session.
As “God Save the King” played on the podium, the Atherton athlete, who was given her gold medal by World Athletics president and two-time Olympic champion Lord Coe, started crying.