“Matthew Hudson-Smith is not playing games” ; “The 400m getting spicy” - Fans react to the Brit’s dominant Oslo Diamond League victory

Matthew Hudson-Smith has just broken his own 400m European record and fans are excited as to what this spells for the upcoming Paris Games. Racing at the Oslo Diamond League, the Brit clocked a 44.07 to beat the rest of the field by a healthy margin.

Going into the event, Hudson-Smith was facing plenty of cutthroat competition, with the likes of Olympic Champions Vernon Norwood and Kirani James, as well as World Champion Quincy Hall in the mix.

However, the 30-year-old decimated the rest of the field, racing to victory with a 44.07 that placed him nearly half a second ahead of Kirani James in second, who clocked a 44.58. Rounding out the top three was American Norwood with his 44.68.

With this new accomplishment, Matthew Hudson-Smith, the 2023 400m World Championship silver-medalist has broken his European record of 44.26 that he set in Budapest last year. This 44.07 also gives the Brit the top three fastest European 400m times on the all-time list.

Reacting to this massive feat by Hudson-Smith, one fan on X (formerly Twitter) said,

“Matt is not playing games. That loss last year haunting my man.”

Another fan expressed excitement over the widening field for the 400m at the Paris Olympics, writing,

“Yeah the 400m getting spicy.”

Here is how other fans reacted to Matthew Hudson-Smith breaching his European record at the Oslo Diamond League:

“He’s coming! 44.07??!!! The only person to run faster this year? Christopher Morales-Williams (44.05s)” one track and field enthusiast wrote.

“Amazing run and superb time…he’s on course to being the first ever European sub 44 with Paris the ultimate prize,” another X user commented.

“Bro didn't hold back with the "it's my f**king year!” one netizen expressed.

“It’s coming together ‼️it’s paying off #BackToTheLab👨🏾‍🔬,” yet another fan chimed in.

Matthew Hudson-Smith zeroes in on Olympic gold

While the European record is quite the achievement, Matthew Hudson-Smith also has his sights set on the next big thing - the Paris Olympics.

In 2017, Hudson-Smith won bronze in the 4x400m relay at the World Championships, a year after finishing eighth at the Rio Olympics. A few years later, he clinched his first major individual medal, a bronze, in the 400m at the Eugene World Championships, before upgrading to a silver in 2023.

Now, Matthew Hudson-Smith is zeroed in on taking the top step of the podium at the 2024 Games. Speaking to BBC Sports after his record-breaking performance in Oslo, the Brit stated he cared more about the medals than the times, saying,

“Preparation has been going well. I knew anything was possible. The time was a bonus. I don't really care about times, I care about victory and preparing for the Olympics.”

“Times are temporary, medals are forever. I'm healthy. Last year I had tendonitis in my Achilles. The goal is the Olympics.”

If he were to win gold in the 400m at the Paris Games, Hudson-Smith would become only the third Brit ever to achieve this feat and the first since 1908.