Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith beat his own 400m European record with a convincing victory in his season opener at the Diamond League in Oslo.

The 29-year-old ran 44.07 at the Bislett Games, beating his 44.26 from last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

“Preparation has been going well,” he told BBC Sport. “I knew anything was possible. The time was a bonus.

“I don’t really care about times, I care about victory and preparing for the Olympics. Times are temporary, medals are forever. I’m healthy. Last year I had tendonitis in my Achilles. The goal is the Olympics.

“It was bittersweet last year, so close to the gold. If I can stay healthy anything is possible.”

Former British athlete Tim Hutchings said on BBC Three: “At 200 he was running away, at 300 he was miles ahead. That forward-learning barrel-chested style was absolutely superb.

“He’s knocking on the door of sub-44 seconds. No European has been there before. Hudson-Smith will surely get there in the coming weeks. That was quite fabulous.”

Reigning Diamond League champion Kirani James was second with a season-best time of 44.58.

Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet ran the second fastest 5,000m in history, in a time of 12:36.73, to beat compatriot Yomif Kejelcha following a remarkable 54-second last lap.

“The conditions, the crowd, was great and it was a very fast race, not easy for me but it was going very well,” said 30-year-old Gebrhiwet. “The race had some very nice guys running – my friend Kejelcha is a very good guy.

“I will try 10k, maybe I will qualify with the 10k at the Olympics so I want to compete there.”