Matthew Hudson-Smith has gone from sneaking into the Alexander Stadium to competing in front of a stand named after him. The 400m superstar began his athletics career with Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club, based at the track, and is now the poster boy for the UK’s first staging of the championships.
Homecoming and growth
“Having the European Championships here shows how far the club and the stadium has come,” the 31-year-old said. “You used to see all these people train here and in 2012 when Team USA were here, me and my friends would sneak in to watch. We weren't supposed to be here, but we got in because we know the routes to get in, which I'm not going to say in case I get into trouble!
“I grew up here and this is my home, so it's amazing to see the changes and the development. We're going to do a good job for the Europeans.”
Experience and control
Hudson-Smith has been given a bye to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m. He claimed Commonwealth Games silver on his home track in 2022 and the seven-time European medallist admits he learnt lessons from being overeager when competing in front of friends and family.
Hudson-Smith, who spent time in the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy growing up before dedicating himself to athletics, now knows how to keep his emotions in check as he prepares to run past the stand that will bear his name.
“I'm glad I did the Commonwealths in 2022, because I went out like a bat out of hell,” he said. “I got the hairdryer treatment from my coach. We had been training for a certain time, I flew through the first 200 in 20-point whatever it was, and he was like ‘what are you doing?’.
“I'm a little bit older. I've gone through that experience now, so the emotions are a little bit more controlled. In 2022, I was boiling up a little bit every time I stepped onto the track. Now, I know what to expect. The noise will be a bit crazy, but I've been there, done it, so it'll be cool.”
