Hudson-Smith wins 400m hat-trick as Birmingham European Athletics Championships deliver British medals

Britain's home European Athletics Championships in Birmingham produced multiple gold medals across sprints, hurdles, and distance events.

Matt Hudson-Smith made history in front of his home crowd in Birmingham, winning his third consecutive European 400m gold — a feat no British man has achieved in the event. The Briton's victory was one of several standout performances at the 2026 European Athletics Championships, which are being hosted in Birmingham for the first time. In the sprints, Amy Hunt won gold in the women's 100m with a time of 11.00 seconds, beating Ewa Swoboda of Poland (silver) and Delphine Nkansa (bronze). On the track earlier, Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu delivered a British one-two in the men's 100m final, while Emily Newnham claimed silver in the women's 400m hurdles. Perhaps the most emotionally charged performance came from Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the men's 5,000m in his first race back after 11 months sidelined by injury. The victory made him the first man in history to win four European titles in the same track event. Nadine Visser also featured prominently, taking gold in the women's 100m hurdles. The championships are generating significant domestic interest in Britain, with world 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson still to race. Hodgkinson has described her anticipated 800m showdown with Swiss rival Audrey Werro as likely to be the 'race of the championships.' Britain last hosted a major athletics championship 92 years ago, adding historical weight to the Birmingham event.

Why it matters

Britain hosting a major athletics championship for the first time in 92 years, combined with strong home performances across multiple events, makes these championships a landmark moment for British athletics. Hudson-Smith's 400m hat-trick and Ingebrigtsen's record-breaking 5,000m title are among the most historically significant individual achievements at the event.

What's next

Keely Hodgkinson's 800m final, which she has described as likely to be the 'race of the championships,' remains the most-anticipated event still to come in Birmingham.

Key facts

• Matt Hudson-Smith won his third consecutive European 400m gold, a historic hat-trick
• Amy Hunt won the women's 100m in 11.00 seconds, her first major international title
• Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the men's 5,000m in his first race after 11 months out injured
• Ingebrigtsen became the first man to win four European titles in the same event
• Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu finished first and second in the men's 100m, a British one-two
• Britain is hosting a major athletics championship for the first time in 92 years

Bias & framing notes

All six sources are from The Guardian, meaning there is no independent corroboration from other outlets. Coverage is strongly framed around British athletes and the home crowd angle, with less contextual detail given to non-British competitors such as Swoboda, Nkansa, or Visser. Ingebrigtsen's historic achievement receives its own dedicated article, suggesting the editorial team recognised its significance beyond the British storyline.

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