Matthew Hudson-Smith: “If you want to win it, you’ve got to take it [gold] from me”

The European 400m record-holder is targeting the top of the Olympic podium and would be the first British male in a century to achieve the feat over one lap

It’s not hard to work out what Matthew Hudson-Smith’s ultimate goal is at the Paris Olympics.

The 29-year-old only has eyes on the gold medal and states that “if you want to win it, you’ve got to take it [gold] from me”.

If Hudson-Smith was to achieve such a feat, he’d be the first British male to stand on the top Olympic 400m podium since Eric Liddell.

Liddell, who is famously depicted in Chariots of Fire, claimed his prestigious Olympic gold medal at Paris 1924, the last time the Games were held in the French capital.

Given Hudson-Smith’s form going into the Olympics, he has every shot at emulating ‘The Flying Scotsman’.

Eric Liddell (Getty)

At last month’s London Diamond League, Hudson-Smith smashed his own European record of 44.07 with a blistering 43.74. That time was also the world lead, meaning that Hudson-Smith arrives in Paris as the fastest 400m runner this season.

Hudson-Smith, who is a double European 400m champion and has claimed bronze and silver medals over one lap at the last two World Championships, feels the “best prepared he’s ever been”, adding that the sport is “10% physical and 90% mental”.

At the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, Hudson-Smith revealed that, due to a combination of injuries and mental health issues, he had “previously attempted suicide” and that life in the years preceding the championships “had been an emotional rollercoaster”.

The Brit has since out-run those demons and with people like coach Gary Evans and 2008 Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu by his side, combined with a new early morning gym routine, he is raring to go at the Olympics.

Ahead of the Games, this is what Hudson-Smith had to say:

Matt Hudson-Smith (Getty)

His ‘bromance’ with Noah Lyles 

I mean, we’ve been training with each other for about four years. I obviously have a very close relationship with him and his brother [Joseph]. I was actually called the third Lyles brother at some point! I’ve seen all the hard work he [Noah] has done and I’m proud of him. He’s just one of those guys that whatever he says will get headlines but he’s a good person. What you see with him is what you get.

He’s my boy and I’m proud of his successes as he is with mine. His success doesn’t actually inspire me in the slightest as I inspire myself. He has his own mission, as do I. What he…

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