- Matthew Hudson-Smith won silver in the men’s 400 meters final at the Olympic Games
- The Team GB star was devastated after missing out on gold against American Quincy Hall
- Hudson-Smith and his partner Antonia are set to marry in the coming weeks
British track and field star Matthew Hudson-Smith will put his failed bid for Olympic gold behind him by marrying his fiancée just weeks after the Games.
The 29-year-old was prevented from winning Olympic gold in the men’s 400 metres final on Wednesday after he was beaten at the finish line by American Quincy Hall, who claimed first place by the narrowest of margins.
Hudson-Smith led for most of the race but was overtaken by Quincy in the final metres and had to settle for silver. Still an incredible achievement for the Wolverhampton-born star.
The British sprinter initially struggled to acknowledge the magnitude of his achievement and burst into tears when he realised he had missed out on an Olympic trophy by just 0.04 seconds.
Hudson-Smith later laughed on stage and will hopefully shed a different kind of tear at the ceremony in September when he marries his partner Antonia Tyson.
British track and field star Matthew Hudson-Smith will marry his fiancée just weeks after the Olympic Games
Hudson-Smith’s fiancée Antonia Tyson previously showed off her stunning teardrop diamond ring during the couple’s engagement
Hudson-Smith had to settle for silver in the men’s 400 metres final after losing by the narrowest of margins to American Quincy Hall (right)
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The couple have largely kept their engagement out of the public eye. There have been few social media posts celebrating their engagement, but Antonia was in the stands at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
Hudson-Smith hugged his partner tightly after the 400m defeat and was overcome with emotion as he embraced his family who had come to cheer him on at the Paris Olympics.
But he was initially unaware that friends and family had been watching his performance, revealing after the race: ‘My family are here. I didn’t know they were here, so that was a bit of a shock.
“I hate them looking at me and my parents don’t really look at me because they hate looking at me as much as I hate them looking at me, so it’s crazy that they came. It’s been a hell of a journey.”
Antonia and her Team GB partner now have just over a month to prepare for their special day. It was announced on a website where friends and family can donate to a ‘newlyweds fund’ that they will officially tie the knot on September 29.
Hudson-Smith and his partner have set up a donation page for those attending their upcoming wedding
Healthcare worker Antonia romantically referred to Hudson-Smith as her “future husband” in a social media post, sharing a photo of her sparkling teardrop-shaped diamond ring at the time of their engagement.
The couple wrote on their donation page: ‘We are so excited to have you with us on our special day! Your presence means the world to us, and your love and support are the greatest gifts of all.
‘For those who would like to contribute a little extra, we have put together a register that will help us build our future together. We kindly request that any additional donations be sent to our home address.
‘Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and we can’t wait to celebrate this unforgettable day with you. With love and gratitude, Antonia & Matthew’.