While it was not to be on this occasion, silver represents the latest remarkable achievement in Hudson-Smith’s career, given the physical and mental struggles he has endured.
This year, Achilles tendonitis, external had threatened to derail his medal bid, leaving him unable to walk at times. At the London Diamond League in July, he had to be helped off the track in a wheelchair.
Following the final, he shared an image of his swollen foot on social media, describing his journey to silver as “a tale of the good, the bad and the damn right ugly”.
But pushing on despite the pain is something Hudson-Smith knows about.
Before his bronze in Oregon 12 months ago, he endured three years of what he described as “absolute hell” which, at his lowest moment, led Hudson-Smith to attempt suicide.
Injury wrecked his chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. It was another huge setback after a series of physical issues that led him to accrue substantial debt due to medical costs and the loss of sponsors.
Isolated from his family and friends in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, having moved from Birmingham for training, he reached breaking point.
He has emerged from the darkest period of his life to make two global podiums.
“It’s been a topsy-turvy year,” Hudson-Smith reflected.
“I’ve had Achilles tendonitis really badly so that’s why I’ve been pulling up, that’s why I’ve been in a wheelchair in London. Sometimes I can’t walk.
“My Achilles has been mashed up bad. This has been like a mental battle.”
“I came for the gold, tied up [in the] last 30 metres, but under the circumstances I can’t complain.
“I tried to find another gear but that’s what happens when you don’t really have races.”
The course of Hudson-Smith’s life changed in 2014. Then working at a supermarket, he seized his chance after receiving a late call-up to the Glasgow Diamond League and ran under 45 seconds for the first time – setting the 11th-fastest time that year.
He went on to display his potential by winning European silver at the age of 19 and has taken two continental titles since.
But he has made no secret of the fact that he had travelled to Budapest to stand on top of the world podium, dismissing talk around his record semi-final performance – a time of 44.26 seconds breaking a 36-year mark – to focus solely on his medal mission.
With the help of three-time global 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, whom he describes as his “guardian angel”, Hudson-Smith says he will aim to hit the “magic” 43-second mark in his bid for glory.
“Matt really believed in his abilities. He put himself in the best position,” two-time world champion Colin Jackson said on BBC TV.
“He said the final home straight was all about his heart. This young man put his heart and soul there to try and hang on and take the title.
“He should not be at all disappointed with that.”
Denise Lewis added: “He broke the European record on an injured Achilles tendon. It’s just remarkable that he managed to do that. He left everything out on the track.
“He can’t be too disappointed because it was just fantastic to get another medal at this stage.”
Hudson-Smith will leave Budapest with a silver medal. But his eyes are firmly trained on the Paris podium – and that elusive gold medal.
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