Matt Hudson-Smith elated after defending his European 400m title

Matt Hudson-Smith retained his 400m title with a commanding victory at the European Championships in Munich.

The 27-year-old Briton, who won bronze at the World Championships and silver at the Commonwealth Games, timed his attack to perfection to cross the line in 44.53 seconds to complete his summer set with a gold medal.

Switzerland’s Ricky Petrucciani took silver and there was joy for Great Britains’s Alex Haydock-Wilson, who held off Dutchman Liemarvin Bonevacia to join Hudson-Smith on the podium.

Hudson-Smith, who is targeting further success in the 4x400m relay, said: “It was a good victory and I did exactly what I wanted to do. I’m so happy to be European champion again.

“I wanted to wind it up and try and be calculated, try to go for the gold. I think people thought I’d go out absolutely blazing on the back straight, so I used them and I controlled it and wound it up.

“It has been a busy summer, but I am so pleased to be able to compete against the best in the world. There’s not much you can ask for really.”

Bronze medallist Haydock-Wilson, who blamed himself for the GB quartet’s failure to make the final of the mixed 4x400m relay in Eugene, admitted that experience had taught him an invaluable lesson after crossing the line in 45.17 seconds.

It taught me so much, it made me fearless as it took me a to a point where things really couldn’t get any worse.- Bronze medallist Alex Haydock-Wilson

He said: “Honestly, now that enough time has passed, I couldn’t be grateful enough for that experience. It was by far one of the worst in my life, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“It taught me so much, it made me fearless as it took me a to a point where things really couldn’t get any worse, and I realised, ‘This is terrible,