Matthew Hudson-Smith has revealed he ignored Noah Lyles after the American star texted him ahead of last night’s 400m race.
The Team GB star previously lived with the Olympic 100m champion and his brother Josephus in the United States and built a strong friendship, leading to Hudson-Smith being described as the “third Lyles brother”.
On Wednesday night, Hudson-Smith came agonisingly close to securing Team GB’s first track and field gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
He took the lead, but a brilliant comeback by Quincy Hall gave the gold medal to Lyles’ American teammate. Hudson-Smith broke down in tears after the race, which he lost by just 0.04 seconds.
Speaking to Eurosport this morning, the 29-year-old Briton was asked about his former housemate.
Matthew Hudson-Smith has revealed that he ignored his former housemate Noah Lyles
The Team GB star revealed that former housemate Lyles sent him a message ahead of Wednesday’s 400m final.
Quincy Hall overtook Hudson-Smith before the finish line to claim the gold medal for the U.S.
Hudson-Smith was visibly emotional after the race as he hugged his family members.
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Asked if he had received any messages from Lyles, he replied: “I’ll probably check in with him after this.”
“He texted me beforehand and it was fine, I didn’t read it because I was too focused on the task at hand. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.”
When told it’s “a big step” to ignore Lyles, he replied, “I know, man.”
Eurosport presenter Orla Chennaoui went on to explain how Hudson-Smith and Lyles met, mentioning a bathroom habit the American said the British star had when they lived together.
Chennaoui said: ‘We should explain that Matthew used to share a room with Noah Lyles, they shared a house in the United States.
“He said that one of the things he learned during his time living with you is that you’re not supposed to wipe your feet when you come out of the bathroom, so the rug outside the bathroom is always very wet. Have you learned to wipe your feet yet, Matthew?”
Hudson-Smith joked: “Why is he taunting me, man? No, I could taunting him so much, but no, he’s a global superstar, guys, we need to leave some mystery.”
Before Wednesday’s 400-meter race, Lyles said he was “voting” for Hudson-Smith to win the gold medal.
Hudson-Smith missed out on gold by just 0.04 seconds to Hall on Wednesday night
Olympic 100m champion Lyles lived with Hudson-Smith when the British team star moved to Florida, where they both trained with Lance Brauman.
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Hudson-Smith moved to Florida in 2017 after deciding she was becoming complacent in England.
He moved to the United States to train with Lance Brauman, who that same year faced an up-and-coming 2016 US Junior Champion, Lyles.
Recounting the story of how Hudson-Smith moved into her home in Florida, she told the Press Association: ‘My brother and I bought a house. He didn’t really want to buy a flat, and I said, ‘Well, why don’t you come and live with me and Josephus for a while? We’ve got a spare room.’
“And he was like, ‘Oh yeah! ‘ So he lived with us. I learned a lot about Matt in that year. I learned that he doesn’t like to wipe his feet before he comes out of the bathroom, so the bathroom rug in his room is always going to be wet, and he loves to cut it really, really short when he comes out to practice.
‘I also learned that at the end of the day, he’s a goofy guy who likes to have fun. He’s carefree. I remember his favorite line was ‘it is what it is,’ and I would always say, ‘What the hell does that mean, Matt?’
‘I’m carefree, but not to the point of not having any kind of plan, and sometimes he would just go out for hours. I’d say, ‘Where have you been?’ and he’d say, ‘Oh! I’m just walking.’