Wolverhampton's Matt Hudson-Smith takes silver in 400m

Wolverhampton's Matt Hudson-Smith claimed his first Olympic medal with silver in a 400 metres final in Paris.

The former Birchfield Harrier was leading into the closing stages, when American Quincy Hall found another gear to snatch gold.

Hudson-Smith finished four hundredths of a second behind to lower his own European record, with Zambia's Muzala Samukonga claiming bronze.

Hall's winning time to beat world silver-medallist Hudson-Smith was good enough for the fourth-fastest in history at 400m, the Briton's time placing him fifth on that same list.

Hudson-Smith said: "It was crazy. Sometimes the journey is better than the result and it's been a hell of a journey. I'm just grateful.

"I've got an Olympic silver medal and how many people can say that? I've been the bridesmaid a couple of times now but my time is coming. I'm just happy and grateful.

"My family are here. I didn't know they were here so that was a bit of a shock. I hate them watching me and my parents don't really watch me because they hate watching me as much as I hate them watching so it's crazy that they came. It's been a hell of a journey.

"I ran it exactly the way my coach told me to. We knew it was going to come down to the last 50 and I thought I had it but he had an extra gear.

"I hit the gear a little bit too late, as we came up he had one step on me and that was it. But I'm healthy, this is just the start and time to build. My time is going to come.

"I thought I'd cleared the field. I knew someone was going to come, I wasn't trying to ease up, I was running to the line. He got me on the line, it happens."

Hudson-Smith finished last in the final on Olympic debut at Rio 2016, a race won by South Africa'sWayde van Niekerk in what remains a world record time.

The 29-year-old was leading the chase with 50 metres to go as he battled Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards, who was hot on his tail.

But world bronze medallist Hall surged forward in the final 50 metres in a thrilling finish to seal his own maiden Olympic medal.

Hudson-Smith was among the favourites to win gold in Paris after laying down a world-leading European record 43.74 at the London Diamond League meet on July 20.

His medal is another remarkable achievement following a courageous comeback from a series of setbacks, injuries and personal challenges.

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