Matthew Hudson-Smith has pop at BBC as Team GB star wins 400m in front of stand named after him at European Athletics

LOCAL HERO Matthew Hudson-Smith eclipsed his rivals as he strode to glory in front of an Alexander Stadium stand named in his honour – and had a pop at the BBC over ‘fake’ news. Then he claimed that when he finishes his career, he would love to become the MAYOR of the West Midlands. Matthew Hudson-Smith powered to gold in the men’s 400m Credit: PA Hudson-Smith celebrated in the stadium he has known since he was a young boy Credit: Sportsfile On the night the sun and moon aligned, so too did the stars for the Wolverhampton runner, who first trained on this track as a nine-year-old. Fireworks filled the sky as Hudson-Smith produced a gold medal-winning display in a time of 44.17 seconds. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! In European terms, the 31-year-old is on another planet, both in terms of times and now the accumulation of medals. This was his third European title over one lap – he is the most decorated man in this event, surpassing Roger Black and Martyn Rooney, who both had two golds. Though he was drawn in lane nine – which meant he had to run blind for the first 200 metres – he went out hard and strong. And he managed to hold off Frenchman Muhammad Abdallah Kounta, who was second in 44.40 seconds. It was a case of STAND and deliver as the home-town boy posed for a photo in front of the temporary stand, by the 200 metres start mark, that bore his name. Hudson-Smith was annoyed by what he claimed was a BBC report that suggested he was carrying an injury as he went through the rounds. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Hudson-Smith has a stand named after him at Alexander Stadium Credit: PA With a golden paper crown on his head, he said: “I was watching a BBC Newcast. You guys need to come with the facts, man. Saying I was injured and everything. “The whole point of rounds is to survive and advance. I tried to conserve rounds. “Me and my coach were laughing all the way around. “We have a couple of big races coming up – the Diamond League final and the Ultimate Championships. It’s about conserving yourself and getting ready. “I knew I was the best in the world. I knew that. On paper, I was a second faster than these guys. “My coach said, once you seal the deal, make sure you do it. This is your home. Defend it. “I knew it would take one hell of an effort to get past me. Every time someone beats me, I kind of end their career. “I knew that for them to beat me, they would have to have a supernatural moment. “Nobody is going to beat me on this track. This is my home. I have been here since I was nine. I know this track like the back of my hand. The last time there was a major champs in this part of the Midlands – the 2022 Commonwealth Games – the one-lap runner was denied gold in the final strides by Zambian Muzala Samukonga. But this made up for that heart-breaking loss four years ago as he paraded the Union Flag with pride. Hudson-Smith – who trains in the stadium for the Birchfield Harriers – joked that he fancies a move into politics when he hangs up his running spikes. Amy Hunt will go for the sprint double on Thursday Credit: EPA Fellow Brit Dina Asher-Smith will aim to spoil Hunt’s party Credit: Reuters He said: “Honestly, I never dreamt of this. I cannot describe what this means to me. “I have got my stand. Now I will go for Mayor of Birmingham and Wolverhampton.” The women’s 200 metres final on Thursday night should be spectacular.It could end up being a domestic battle between sprint queen Amy Hunt – who eased up as she won semi-final one in 22.37 seconds – and Dina Asher-Smith, who ran 22.49 seconds. Success Educan made it a trip of Brits in the final – the fourth time that has happened in this event at the Champs. Comment now