We thought the struggle was real for Matthew Hudson-Smith during an extraordinary 44 seconds here at Hayward Field, as he fought the lactic acid in his legs and the fireballs in his lungs, and ran the race of his life.
Really, though, we had no idea. No idea at all.
Moments after the 27-year-old from Birmingham left the track with a world 400m bronze medal around his neck, and a smile that suggested glorious catharsis, he revealed to us his journey had nearly ended suddenly and shockingly last year.
“Not a lot of people know this,” he said, “but I literally attempted suicide.”
And then it all came tumbling out. How he had missed the Tokyo Olympics with mental health issues. Lost his sponsors. Suffered significant financial debts due to injuries. And then, having been isolated in the US during Covid, felt himself falling dangerously towards the edge.
“In 2018 I won the Europeans even though everything didn’t go to plan,” said Hudson-Smith. “In 2019 I tore my Achilles, tore my hamstring, messed up my hip. I had huge debts because I didn’t have American health insurance. During Covid in 2020 I was stuck in America by myself. And in 2021 I had huge mental health issues.”
The loss of two of his mentors, the former UK Athletics head coach Neil Black in 2020 and his close friend Lloyd Cowan in 2021, also hurt him deeply too. Fortunately a close team of friends, family and confidantes managed to pull him back from the brink. “I couldn’t do the Olympics for several reasons,” he said. “I was racing knowing I was hurt all the time. But it’s also been mental. A lot of people would have cracked.”
“It was tough,” he added, shaking his head. “I remember talking to a lot of people about not doing the sport. My mum and girlfriend were ‘give it a year’ [but] I was going to be an electrician.”
Hudson-Smith also praised another mentor, Christine Ohuruogu as well as his “best friend” Dina Asher-Smith, who was in the stands roaring him on towards glory as he came around the bend surrounded by three others who also scented a medal.
At that stage American Michael Norman, the fourth-fastest man in history, slipped into a higher gear to glide away in 44.29, with former world and Olympic champion Kirani James, of Grenada, claiming silver in 44.48sec.
And as the world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk began to fade, Hudson-Smith held his form to win a brave bronze in 44.66. As he crossed the line he was given his medal by Iwan Thomas – the British record holder for 25 years until Hudson-Smith surpassed it in May. His face told you there could be no sweeter moment. Especially given what had gone before.
