Quincy Hall of the United States captured gold in a dramatic men’s 400 meters final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clocking 43.40 seconds, the fifth-fastest time ever. Hall ended a 16-year gold medal drought for the U.S. in this event, surging from behind to overtake Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga.
Hudson-Smith set a European record at 43.44 seconds, earning silver, while Samukonga claimed bronze with a national record of 43.74 seconds. This race marked the first time five athletes ran under 44 seconds in the same race.
“I don’t give up, man,” Hall said. “I just got grit. I grind. I got determination.” Hall, motivated by thoughts of his two daughters, reflected on his challenging journey, growing up with limited resources.
Hudson-Smith, leading off the bend, narrowly missed becoming the first British 400m Olympic champion since 1924. “If you’re going to win, you’ve got to take it from me,” Hudson-Smith said. “That’s exactly what he did.”
Samukonga’s finish made him Zambia’s third Olympic medalist and first since 1996. “Competing at the Olympics has been my dream,” said the 21-year-old. “I’m proud of myself.”
Kirani James of Grenada, the 2012 Olympic champion, finished fifth. Despite earlier form, he struggled in the final stretch but vowed to continue his career, aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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