Olympian Matt Hudson-Smith says he’ll miss West Midlands community

Olympic medallist Matt Hudson-Smith has said he will miss the food and sense of community in the West Midlands when he moves to the United States.

The Wolverhampton 400m runner, who won an individual silver and relay bronze at Paris 2024, is set to make the move abroad after marrying his partner Antonia Tyson last month.

Having grown up in Wolverhampton and been part of Birchfield Harriers athletics club In Birmingham, the 29-year-old told BBC Radio WM that the region would always be his home.

He included the food among the things he would miss and said Indian food in the West Midlands was the best in the country.

“I’ll fight anyone on that statement,” he added.

Hudson-Smith said he would also miss the “sense of community” in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, mentioning how “integrated” it was.

“In America, everything is so far and separated, but in Birmingham you can go like 10 minutes to your best mate’s house or you can go straight to the pub,” he said.

“You can’t beat home, you can’t beat it.”

Although he moved his training base to the US some years ago, this is more of a permanent move, following the couple’s wedding.

The athlete was narrowly beaten on the line during the men’s 400m final in Paris, with USA’s Quincy Hall taking gold with a time of 43.40 seconds and Hudson-Smith agonisingly close on 43.44 seconds – a British and European record.

Asked how he felt after getting that close, he said there were “mixed emotions” but that he could not be upset about an Olympic medal.

“I just achieved something that not many people can say they have achieved so it gave me more belief and started a fire in my stomach,” he said.

“Now I know where I can go in the future.”

Hudson-Smith said he now wanted to help younger generations get into athletics, adding that the country “had the talent” and the “foundations of success”.

He added that his Olympic success was “just the start” and he was excited about what his future would hold.