Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
London 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion on BBC TV

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Confidence is a huge thing for Matthew Hudson-Smith. If you think back a few years ago, he has been on such a journey and he has been very open about going through some quite dark times in the sport with injuries and mental health issues.

He has come out of that period now and he seems so confident and he is so reassured by what he has been doing off the track and also in training as well. He has got the confidence to go in there and contend.

2023 was a tough year for him, he had Achilles injuries and raced very little.

This year, he is in the shape of his life and he is coming into this Games in the perfect position.

Christine Ohuruogu
Former 400m Olympic gold medallist on BBC Radio 5 Live

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I've known Matthew for many years now and it was never a formal mentorship situation but he was always someone that I've taken a lot of interest in and he has always asked me for help and he is such a lovely guy.

I just wish him all the best today. I know it's tough but he is ready. He has been waiting for this for a long time. I know he'll be really happy by the end of this

He was very aware that if he placed quick times going into the Olympics that he would be the target and I think as we have seen throughout the season he has coped with that very well. He's ready for these Games, he knows he is a favourite.

I just hope that when he gets to the line he is completely as focused as he needs to be.

Harry Poole
BBC Sport in Paris

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World bronze in 2022. Silver in 2023.

Only gold will do for Matthew Hudson-Smith in Paris.

Having put his injury issues behind him, the signs have been incredibly positive this season as the Briton built towards his target.

After setting a new European record of 44.07 in Oslo in May, he took the difficult decision to miss the European Championships and focus fully on the Olympics.

Then, at the London Diamond League last month, just six days before the start of the Games, he smashed that personal best to set the fastest time in the world this year in 43.74.

Hudson-Smith has looked at home on the purple track at the Stade de France, effortlessly making his way through the rounds to set up his shot at gold.

Such is his sharp focus on the task at hand he has not been stopping to answer any questions after each round, and he is going to take some stopping tonight.

Team GB's Victoria Ohuruogu speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after missing out on the women's 400m final: "It was very tough, as expected, we are at an Olympic Games. I could definitely feel the two rounds before in my legs. I did the best I could, I would have liked for a slightly quicker time but I left it on the track.

"I managed to run my best at these Games. It was tough with two rounds before in my legs but yesterday was a great performance. I wish today could have been a bit quicker but it has been a good experience so far and I am looking forward to the relay."

Colin Jackson
Two-time world 110m hurdles champion on BBC TV

That is the race we wanted to see. A real competitive semi-final with a real battle all the way to the line Two of the best athletes in there giving it some.

What's already happened?

• GB's cyclists took silver in the men's team pursuit after being beaten in the final by Australia, while Britain also won bronze in the women's team pursuit with victory over Italy.
• British sailor Micky Bennett missed out on a medal in the men's dinghy final, finishing sixth overall, while Australia's Matt Wearn won gold.
• Britain's George Mills was involved in a dramatic collision and fiery confrontation as the men's 5000m heats boiled over on day 12 at the Olympics - but Mills is through to Saturday's final despite fearing he was out after falling near the finish line.
• Team GB made smoother progress in the men's 800m and women's 100m hurdles, but 51-year-old Andy Macdonald failed to qualify for the men's park skateboarding final.

What's coming up?

• All British eyes are shortly going to be on the men's 400m final, with Matthew Hudson-Smith aiming to become the first GB winner of men’s 400m Olympic gold in 100 years. That takes place in about 20 minutes.
• After that we still have the men's 3000m steeplechase final to come at 20:43 BST.
• And there will be some late night boxing to enjoy, too, including the men's 63.5kg final and men's 80kg final.

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

Amber Anning has had one of those years, full of big performances indoors and outdoors. She has managed to get herself, unlike some of the others, particularly the Americans, she has come here in great shape.

Well done, Amber Anning. The British sprinter, already in possession of a Paris bronze, will be lining up in the women's 400m showpiece. The 23-year-old goes through with Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek.

The final on Friday is at 19:00 BST.

Jazmin Sawyers
European indoor long jump champion on BBC TV

Alysha Newman has looked great all year but that is exceptional. Not something that everyone else in the competition would like to see.

Can anybody match her?

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Team GB's Anna Morris spoke to BBC TV after the women's pursuit team were presented with their bronze medals: "It's been so surreal. When we were sat waiting for the final ride, you really appreciate being able to take that moment in and sit in there in track centre thinking 'actually this is my last chance to take this all in during this Games.' I wanted to do it all again already and we hadn't done that final ride yet.

"It was tense moments for me being the bail rider in that last ride, seeing how close it was with Italy. I'm so proud of the girls for finishing it off so strongly."

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC One

The big shock there is Nickisha Pryce fading badly - she will not qualify for the final. Laviai Nielsen will also not go through with that time.

What we also saw is, as expected, Marileidy Paulino is going to be the woman to beat.

Harry Poole
BBC Sport in Paris

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It has been 100 years since Eric Liddell won Olympic 400m gold in Paris.

The last British man to win that title, Liddell's achievement is remembered in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

As many as 28 years have passed since Roger Black became Britain's last medallist in the men's event.

It has been a long, brutal road to this point for Matthew Hudson-Smith, who opened up on his struggles with his mental health in 2022 while he has also faced repeated physical setbacks.

The latest in a series of injuries wrecked his chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, which led him to accrue substantial debt due to medical costs and the loss of sponsors.

Isolated from his family and friends in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, he reached breaking point.

Hudson-Smith has had to fight hard on and off the track to arrive here, on the brink of history, but now he has the opportunity he has long dreamed of.

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Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic takes that second semi-final at a canter.

USA's Alexis Holmes comes home in second and is also through to the final, but it's the end of the 400m road for third-placed Laviai Nielsen, as her time of 50.69 seconds won't be good enough for the two time qualifier spots.

Colin Jackson
Two-time world 110m hurdles champion on BBC TV

You look at the reaction times of 400m runners they are a little slower than the sprinters as they are further away from the gun.

Lavia Nielsen just needs to hold it all together. She has done well so far but running between the favourites she has to stay focused.

Laviai Nielsen already has a bronze medal for GB's mixed 4x400m relay in Paris, so can she get another shot at silverware, this time in the women's 400m final?

Hold your horses though. Another false start... and it's Nielsen.

What card will it be? Yellow. Phew.

Sonia Oxley
BBC Sport in Paris

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China take the gold.

Some beautiful formations on top of the water, coupled with throws that seemed to go higher than anyone else, and they score 283.6934 for a total of 996.1389.

They have led from the very start of this competition two days ago and it's clear to see why.

The United States (914.3421) take silver and Spain the bronze (900.7319).

Team GB's Charlie Tanfield speaking to BBC TV after collecting his men's team pursuit silver medal: "Yes this absolutely makes up for it [Tokyo]. We can all be proud of what we have achieved tonight. It's has been a long journey since Tokyo.

"It still hurts that we didn't win gold but we put it all on the line, gave it our best shot. We can still be so proud."

The 400m is brutal, however, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain eases to the win in a time of 49.08 seconds.

Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke comes home in second, so we have our first two finalists.

Team GB's Victoria Ohuruogu finishes her race in fifth.

It's all over and China are heading through.

Belgium will be kicking themselves here.

After scoring in the last minute of regulation time to level at 1-1 and force a shoot-out, they led 2-0 but saw three successive attempts saved and lost 3-2.

The one that got away.

Belgium meet Argentina in the bronze medal match on Friday at 13:00 BST with China going up against the Netherlands for gold at 19:00 BST.

Ongoing Men’s discus final

Now Women’s 400m semi-finals

20.20 Men’s 400m final

20.43 Men’s 3,000m steeplechase final