Hudson-Smith wins gold on home turf in 400m
On his childhood track, in front of a stand named in his honour, hometown hero Matthew Hudson-Smith was not going to be denied.
A full-circle moment, completed by writing his name in history.
More than two decades after stepping foot inside Alexander Stadium for the first time aged nine, Hudson-Smith delivered Great Britain's latest gold in Birmingham to become the joint-most decorated man of all-time at European Championships.
The 31-year-old celebrated the third European 400m title of his illustrious career by making his way into the crowd and placing a hand on the banner bearing his name.
Moments before, Hudson-Smith had stormed down the home straight, just as he had countless times before as a member of local club Birchfield Harriers.
This time, though, the Olympic and world silver medallist did so to rapturous cheers inside the arena which fostered his love for the sport.
With his eighth podium at the championships, Hudson-Smith equalled French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre's men's record medal tally – with the relays still to come.
"Honestly, words can't describe how much that meant to me," he told BBC Sport.
"Nobody was going to beat me on this track. This is my home. I know this track like the back of my hand. I have my stand. Now I'm going to go for Mayor of Birmingham and Wolverhampton!
"I knew I was the best in the world. I knew that, on paper, I was a second faster than every single one of these guys. It was about me and the clock."
The team behind Hodgkinson's golden rise and the hunt for a world record
European Athletics Championships medal table
It is 12 years since Hudson-Smith won the first of his European Championship medals, claiming 400m silver on his debut in 2014.
Since then he has dealt only in golds in his individual event at this level, alongside two 4x400m relay titles.
