English heptathlete latest star name to drop out of Commonweath Games
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 23.07.26. | 21:35
The Paris Olympics silver medallist was one of nine withdrawals from the England athletics squad on Thursday
English heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson on Thursday,23 July became the latest star name to drop out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with an unspecified injury.
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The 33-year-old defending heptathlon champion in a post said she was "gutted" to withdraw from the England team, joining eight other withdrawals from the nation on the same day.
Team-mates who also pulled out just hours before the opening ceremony in the Scottish city of Glasgow included: Johnson-Thompson's fellow Olympic medallists Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Amber Anning.
"I'm gutted to have to pull out of this year's Commonwealth Games," Johnson said on social media. "I was so looking forward to competing on home soil and having the chance to defend my Commonwealth title!
Although the injury I picked up earlier this season has improved, I haven't been able to get back to the level I need to compete at my best. After discussing it with my team, we've made the difficult decision to focus on giving myself the best chance of being ready for the European Championships, so working very hard to be there later this season."
"Missing a championship is never easy, but I know it's the right decision. I can't wait to be back competing again soon," she added.
Johnson, twice a world heptathlon champion and a bronze medallist at last year's edition in Tokyo, now joins Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson, who did not pursue Commonwealth selection, in concentrating on next month's European Championships in Birmingham.
Other leading athletes who will not be part of the games - which run till Sunday, 2 August, include: Kenya's Mary Moraa, who is the defending 800m champion, St Lucia's reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, and Olympic swimming medallists Summer McIntosh (Canada) and Kaylee McKeown of Australia.
Additional information by AFP.