In their first head-to-head since the incredible 400m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Olympic silver medallist and European record holder Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) will line up against Olympic champion Quincy Hall (USA) at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on Saturday 18 July.
The Paris 2024 men’s 400m final was one of the fastest in Olympic history. Hall’s stunning victory came with a personal best of 43.40 while in second, Hudson-Smith clocked 43.44 to lower his own lifetime best (and European record). Underlining the quality of the race, five runners beat 44 seconds and the top two established themselves as fourth and fifth respectively on the world all-time list.
Hall has raced sparingly since Paris and missed the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to injury. This will be his first time racing in London.
Hudson-Smith – world 400m silver medallist in 2023 and multiple European champion over 400m and in the 4 x 400m relay – has an impressive Diamond League record in the capital. His 2024 victory in a meeting record of 43.74 (also an area record, world lead and PB at the time) remains his second-fastest time ever over one-lap, while in 2025 he clocked 44.27 for second, also within his top ten quickest times.
“There was a lot of madness last year,” said the Birchfield Harrier who reached the semi-finals of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. “I had hamstring injuries and I was ill, then in the buildup to Tokyo I became a dad which was amazing, but obviously stressful too.
“Things have settled down now, my winter training has gone well and I have an exciting summer ahead. It would mean a lot to me to return to the London Stadium and deliver another strong performance for the fans that have always backed me. I think my perspective has changed a bit over the last few months and that’s probably for the better. Staying healthy is my priority. Before, I was doing this all for myself, chasing the glory, chasing medals, but now I want to create history and make some great memories for my family. I think the best is still to come.”
The Novuna London Athletics Meet – the world’s biggest one-day athletics event – is the eleventh meeting of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League. The series comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents and begins in Shanghai/Keqiao on 23 May. It concludes with a single final across two days in Brussels (4-5 September).
Buy your tickets now: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/novuna-london-athletics-meet-2026/