WATCH: Hudson-Smith lights up Birmingham 2026
by 13th August 2026
Matthew Hudson-Smith delivered a home-track masterclass on an unforgettable third night of the European Athletics Championships, storming to his third European 400m title in 44.17 – just 0.02 shy of the championship record.
With a stand at the Alexander Stadium temporarily renamed in his honour, the British star powered to victory from the outside lane to send the home crowd into celebration.
But Hudson-Smith wasn’t the only athlete making history.
Emma Zapletalová became only the second Slovakian ever to win a European title, taking a brilliant 400m hurdles final in 52.91.
Finland's Silja Kosonen graduated from age-group champion to senior European champion with women’s hammer gold.
And Switzerland's Jason Joseph brought the night to a close by taking the men’s 110m hurdles crown.
RECORDS TUMBLE
One of the performances of the championships came from Ireland’s Mark English, who smashed a championship record that had stood for 48 years.
English clocked 1:43.49 in an extraordinary 800m semifinal in which four men went faster than Olaf Beyer’s previous championship record of 1:43.84, set in 1978.
Meanwhile, world champion Leo Neugebauer leads the decathlon after day one – including a championship best of 17.13m in the shot put.
NEXT UP: A HUGE DAY FOUR
Can Amy Hunt complete the sprint double?
After winning 100m gold, the world 200m silver medallist was fastest into Thursday’s 200m final in 22.37.
There’s plenty more to watch too.
Elise Thorner carries British hopes of a historic first European women’s 3000m steeplechase title, but reigning champion Alice Finot and two-time winner Gesa Felicitas Krause stand in her way.
Mark English returns for the 800m final chasing the one medal missing from his collection: European gold.
And the men’s discus brings together an extraordinary cast – Kristjan Ceh, Mykolas Alekna and Daniel Ståhl – with even the championship record potentially in danger.
Day three delivered. Day four could be even bigger.
Follow all the action from Birmingham 2026 with European Athletics.