Matthew Hudson-Smith stormed to silver in the men’s 400m final and smashed his own personal best in an Olympic classic at the Stade de France.

Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield Harriers) was leading into the home straight but was overhauled by a charging Quincy Hall of the USA in the final 15 metres.

The 29-year-old stopped the clock in 43.44 seconds, shaving a massive 0.30s off his previous mark, which is also a national and European record.

“Sometimes the journey is better than the result and it’s been a hell of a journey,” he said.

“I’m just grateful. I’ve got an Olympic silver medal and how many people can say that.

“I’ve been the bridesmaid a couple of times now but my time is coming.”

Starting in lane six, Hudson-Smith made a strong start and sat third after the first 100m behind a fast-starting Jereem Richards and Kirani James.

However, Hudson-Smith made his move down the back straight and worked his way into second, before grabbing the lead around the final bend.

He motored away from the field at the top of the home straight but Hall reeled him in and beat him with his own personal best time of 43.40s.

“I ran it exactly the way my coach told me to,” he added.

“We knew it was going to come down to the last 50 and I thought I had it but [Hall] had an extra gear.

“I hit the gear a little bit too late, as we came up he had one step on me and that was it.

“I thought I’d cleared the field. I knew someone was going to come, I wasn’t trying to ease up, I was running to the line.

“But this is just the start and time to build. My time is going to come.”

Elsewhere on a thrilling night at the Stade de France, Amber Anning reached the final of the women’s 400m with a new personal best.

Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove) finished second in the third semi-final, enough for automatic qualification, and set the fourth fastest time of anyone with a 49.47s.

And after winning bronze as part of the mixed 4x400m relay on the opening night of action, she noted her hunger to reach the podium again in Paris.

“I’ve worked so hard for this, I was third in the heats so I knew what time I’d have to run to make this final. So I just executed my race,” she said.

“I definitely have a lot of confidence going into Friday. That was a slight personal best. I’m so proud that I’ve given myself a chance for a medal.

“I’m going back to the drawing board and get my recovery done tomorrow. That medal has given me so much motivation to win another one. I want it more for myself and just go again.

“I love running in front of that crowd. The support, especially the British support, propels me round the track. I’m loving every second of it.”

There was disappointment for Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield & Haringey) and Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles), who both missed the final.

Nielsen finished third in the second semi-final and her time was not enough to progress, while Ohuruogu was fifth in the first.

“It felt like a brave run from me, I can honestly say that I gave it everything out there,” Nielsen said.

“I can’t be too disappointed, I’m really proud of myself.”

Meanwhile, Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) finished eighth in the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles semi-finals after tripping around the final bend.

“I am happy to make the semi-final. I had a really good heat the other day, and to be out in front of this crowd and to race these types of athletes is a dream of mine,” he said.

In the first track event of the evening, Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) finished seventh in his men’s 110m hurdles heat and did not progress to the final.