Injury Woes Force Johnson-Thompson, Asher-Smith Out Of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Team England have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the athletics competition at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games following the withdrawal of several of their biggest stars due to injury.
Leading the list of absentees is world and Olympic medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who has pulled out of the women's heptathlon. Sprint ace Dina Asher-Smith, Olympic 400m silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith, Daryll Neita and Amber Anning have also withdrawn from England's athletics team.
Johnson-Thompson, 33, had been targeting a third consecutive Commonwealth Games heptathlon title after winning gold at the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 editions.
Team England confirmed she sustained an injury, with rising star Niamh Emerson called up as her replacement.
The withdrawals come on the opening day of the Games and represent a major blow to England's medal ambitions.
However, organisers remain confident the athletics programme will still feature top-class competition despite the loss of several headline names.
To strengthen the squad, England have drafted in Renee Regis, Ebuka Nwokeji, Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Tom Keen ahead of the track and field events, which begin on Monday.
The Glasgow Games had already been deprived of Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who chose to focus on next month's European Championships in Birmingham. Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred and Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh have also opted to skip the event in favour of other competitions.
Despite the high-profile withdrawals, organisers believe the Games will provide an opportunity for emerging athletes to make their mark on the international stage.
Attention will now shift to Scotland's leading medal contenders, including world mile record holder Josh Kerr and defending Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan, as the athletics competition gets underway.
Leading the list of absentees is world and Olympic medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who has pulled out of the women's heptathlon. Sprint ace Dina Asher-Smith, Olympic 400m silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith, Daryll Neita and Amber Anning have also withdrawn from England's athletics team.
Johnson-Thompson, 33, had been targeting a third consecutive Commonwealth Games heptathlon title after winning gold at the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 editions.
Team England confirmed she sustained an injury, with rising star Niamh Emerson called up as her replacement.
The withdrawals come on the opening day of the Games and represent a major blow to England's medal ambitions.
However, organisers remain confident the athletics programme will still feature top-class competition despite the loss of several headline names.
To strengthen the squad, England have drafted in Renee Regis, Ebuka Nwokeji, Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Tom Keen ahead of the track and field events, which begin on Monday.
The Glasgow Games had already been deprived of Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, who chose to focus on next month's European Championships in Birmingham. Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred and Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh have also opted to skip the event in favour of other competitions.
Despite the high-profile withdrawals, organisers believe the Games will provide an opportunity for emerging athletes to make their mark on the international stage.
Attention will now shift to Scotland's leading medal contenders, including world mile record holder Josh Kerr and defending Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan, as the athletics competition gets underway.
