WATCHING Wayde van Niekerk disappear off into the distance and erase Michael Johnson’s name from the world record books with a stunning 43.03 time for 400m will have been a chastening experience for Matt Hudson-Smith, but will also be the making of him, according to two former Olympians.
One year after suffering three stress fractures which forced him to miss the World Championships, Hudson-Smith finally arrived on the global stage on his Olympic debut, handling himself like a seasoned professional to reach the final with a 44.48 personal best in his semi-final before running 44.61 for eighth in the final.
Jamie Baulch (far right), says Matt Hudson-Smith can break the British 400m record
PICTURES: MARK SHEARMAN