Olympic medalist Matt Hudson-Smith has said he will miss the food and sense of community in the West Midlands when he moves to the United States.
The Wolverhampton 400m runner, who won an individual silver and relay bronze at Paris 2024, is set to make the move abroad after marrying his partner Antonia Tyson last month.
Having grown up in Wolverhampton and been part of Birchfield Harriers athletics club In Birmingham, the 29-year-old told BBC Radio WM that the region would always be his home.
Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson returned to his high school to inspire students following his successful yet injury-challenged 2024 season, which included his Olympic debut.
He included the food among the things he would miss and said Indian food in the West Midlands was the best in the country. «I’ll fight anyone on that statement,” he added.
Hudson-Smith said he would also miss the sense of community in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, mentioning how integrated it was. «In America, everything is so far and separated, but in Birmingham you can go like 10 minutes to your best mate’s house or you can go straight to the pub,» he said.
«You can’t beat home, you can’t beat it.» Although he moved his training base to the US some years ago, this is more of a permanent move, following the couple’s wedding.
Kenyan road runner Charles Kipkkurui Langat has received a two-year ban for violating World Athletics anti-doping regulations.
The athlete was narrowly beaten on the line during the men’s 400m final in Paris, with USA’s Quincy Hall taking gold with a time of 43.40 seconds and Hudson-Smith agonisingly close on 43.44 seconds — a British and European record.