Hudson-Smith's stunning athletics summer set to inspire next generation, reckons Johnson

Matthew Hudson-Smith's glittering summer of success just a year after he tried to take his own life can serve as a beacon of hope and get more people into athletics, claims Michael Johnson. British 400m star Hudson-Smith, 27, won bronze at the World Championships in Oregon in July before revealing he had endured «three years of absolute hell» after a torrid time with injury and Covid lockdown culminated in a suicide attempt in 2021.

Ad Hudson-Smith went on to make history as the first British athlete to win medals at three different major championships in the same summer after claiming silver at his home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham before defending his European title in Munich. AthleticsJohnson: Wightman can emulate inspirational exploits of Farah and Ennis-Hill36 MINUTES AGO «It does a great deal of good to see athletes who have had those struggles go on to have success at the highest level, which gives other people hope,» said former 400m world record holder Johnson, speaking as an ambassador at the Professional Triathletes Organisation's US Open in his hometown of Dallas.

«But it also makes these great athletes human, which I think is great for bringing more fans into a sport.» American icon Johnson, 55, loved watching Hudson-Smith's medals in his role as a BBC commentator and praised his decision to speak candidly about his mental health struggles while admitting it is always a personal choice to share such intimate information. The four-time Olympic champion added: «I was so pleased to see Matt have a very successful summer with a medal at the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

»It was a good championship and a good year for him. That's a very personal story, it's his choice whether he chooses to