Great Britain’s medal hopes suffer blow as Matthew Hudson-Smith exits World Championships

Great Britain and Northern Ireland equalled their best haul of 10 medals to finish seventh at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, bringing home two gold medals, three silvers and five bronze.

They also achieved GB’s best return at an Olympics for 40 years with 10 athletics medals at Paris 2024.

The team had a gold, silver and bronze after four days in Budapest two years ago, although the daily schedule – and timing of medal prospects – is different this time round.

And, while 31 other countries have already won a medal, there will be belief that they can produce a strong finish to these championships.

Amber Anning, Max Burgin and Ben Pattison were among the athletes to maintain their medal pursuits on Tuesday night.

World indoor champion Anning qualified for Thursday’s women’s 400m final after crossing the line behind hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who further asserted herself as the gold-medal favourite by clocking the seventh-fastest time in history.

Burgin, whose improved personal best of one minute 42.36 seconds ranks fourth-fastest this year, controlled his men’s 800m heat to win in 1:44.73.

Pattison, a surprise bronze medallist in that event two years ago, showed he is finding form late in an injury-disrupted year in joining Burgin in Thursday’s semi-finals.