Olympic champion Vernon Norwood has urged British Olympian Hudson-Smith to follow up on his promise for a showdown against the world’s top sprinters.
British Olympian Matthew Hudson-Smith has been urged by Olympic champion Vernon Norwood to a make good on his promise for a highly anticipated 300m showdown at the 2025 New Balance Grand Prix in Boston.
This development comes after an intriguing exchange between the two athletes on social media.
Matthew Hudson-Smith, who clinched silver at the 2024 Olympic games in the 400 meters, has sent Australian wonderkid Gout Gout important advice amid ‘new Usain Bolt’ tag.
Norwood recently posted on his X account, reminding Hudson-Smith of their earlier discussions about a 300m face-off.
“You was yappin all last year bout 300m pull up Boston,” Norwood wrote, reigniting the debate.
Hudson-Smith wasted no time in responding, saying, “Talk to your people. New Balance has Ricky’s number,” signaling his willingness to make the race happen.
Norwood’s playful retort, “Keep the ringer on,” further fueled anticipation for the potential matchup.
The rivalry dates back to August 2024, when Hudson-Smith on the back of the 2024 Paris Olympics issued an open challenge for a 300m race between top sprinters from the United States and Great Britain.
Among the athletes he called out were Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo, Noah Lyles, and Rai Benjamin. Hudson-Smith also expressed interest in breaking the current 300m world record, held by Tebogo, suggesting the event could serve as a historic attempt to rewrite the record books.
Confirmed participants for this year’s New Balance Grand Prix already include prominent names like Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin.
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Noah Lyles and Rai Benjamin share the belief of track couple Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall that the 2025 World Championships could deliver record-breaking performances.
Lyles is set to compete in the Ralph Mann Memorial Men’s 60m against former 100m Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, while Benjamin will headline the Jesse Loubier Memorial Men’s 300m.
Hudson-Smith’s potential entry would undoubtedly add star power to the already star-studded lineup.
