'It was crazy': Hudson-Smith pipped at line to take silver in men's 400m final

Matt Hudson-Smith missed out by four-hundredths of a second on a first British Olympic gold in the men's 400m since Chariots of Fire's Eric Liddell but a slew of silvers kept Britain neck-and-neck with France in the Olympic medal table.

- Daniel Boffey

It was a lightning-quick affair in the Stade de France last night, with both Quincy Hall, of the US, and HudsonSmith, from Birmingham, putting in the fastest runs of their careers in a race that was decided in the final few metres. Hall's 43.40 was the fifth fastest of all time while the British runner, who had been favourite for gold, beat his own European record with a time of 43.44. Muzala Samukonga of Zambia took bronze in 43.74.

Hudson-Smith, who was leading for much of the home straight, was furious with himself, burying his head in his father's shoulder in the stands while Hall, wrapped in the stars and stripes, revelled in the crowd's acclamation.

For all of his evident disappointment, the silver was a tribute to the British racer's resilience after coming back from a suicidal moment just three years ago when injuries and a loss of sponsorship, along with huge medical debts, had brought him to his lowest ebb.

Hudson-Smith was not to emulate Liddell's triumph in Paris in 1924, as immortalised in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, but speaking after the race he recognised his achievements, adding that his "time is going to come".

He 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 as they hate watching me as much as I hate them watching so it's crazy that they came."