Olympics-Athletics-Britain's Hudson-Smith sets up 400m showdown with Americans

By Helen Reid

PARIS (Reuters) - Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith came a step closer to his dream of becoming the first Briton in a century to win Olympic gold in the 400 metres, qualifying on Sunday for the final along with the United States' Quincy Hall.

The final set for Tuesday was made more unpredictable as defending champion, Bahamas' Steven Gardiner, pulled out of the qualifiers due to injury.

Hudson-Smith and Hall are both contenders to take his crown, as the only men in the world to break 44 seconds this year.

Hudson-Smith took the lead halfway through his heat and crossed the line ahead of American Christopher Bailey, in 44.78 seconds, looking serene.

"I just want to execute and go for the win really," Hudson-Smith said.

The 29-year-old has made no secret of his ambition to become the second British man to win gold over the distance after Eric Liddell at the Paris Olympics of 1924 - a victory immortalised in the 1981 film "Chariots of Fire".

Hall, meanwhile, will be looking to continue the extraordinary U.S. dominance over this distance. U.S. athletes have won 19 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze for 38 medals in all. The next best in total medals is Britain with seven.

Hall flexed his muscles for the camera after winning his heat in 44.28, the second-fastest time of the night after his teammate Michael Norman (44.10).

Hall ran 43.80 in Monaco on July 12 and Hudson-Smith topped that with a 43.74 a week later at the Diamond League meet in London.

Among the other challengers qualifying on Sunday were Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards with 44.31 and 19-year-old Canadian Christopher Morales-Williams with 44.96.

South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk, who holds the 400 world record of 43.03, is not competing over the distance in Paris, instead focusing on the 200 which kicks off on Monday.

The first three in each heat advanced to the semi-finals set for Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. local time (1735 GMT), while the others get another chance to qualify in a repechage round on Monday.

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Ken Ferris)