Johnson-Thompson and Asher-Smith out of Commonwealths
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to injury, while Dina Asher-Smith and other England athletes have been replaced.
Olympic heptathlon silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because of injury. The 33-year-old was set to compete in her third Commonwealth Games, having won gold in 2018 on the Gold Coast and in Birmingham in 2022. Team England gave no details of her issue, only confirming she has been replaced by Niamh Emerson, who took bronze behind Johnson-Thompson in 2018.
Dina Asher-Smith and 400m Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith, who were both set to run relays for Team England, have also been replaced. Daryll Neita, Amber Anning, and St Lucia's 100m Olympic champion Julien Alfred have also withdrawn. New additions to England's athletics squad include Renee Regis, Ebuka Nwokeji, Tara Simpson-Sullivan, and Tom Keen.
The withdrawals of such high-profile names are a significant blow to the event, especially as the opening ceremony takes place on Friday. England's Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson had already skipped the Games to prioritise the European Championships, which begin on 10 August. Organisers insist the event will be a success despite the absences, with Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty focusing on younger athletes. Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadler said future conversations will aim to create a clearer window in the sporting calendar.
