Katarina Johnson-Thompson out: why athletes keep withdrawing
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with an injury that left her short of competition level. The two-time Commonwealth heptathlon champion will prioritise next month's European Championships instead, as nine England athletes and other stars step aside amid a crowded calendar. That decision puts katarina johnsonthompson headlines at the centre of opening-ceremony day questions about withdrawals.
Key Takeaways
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson is out of Glasgow 2026 after an earlier-season injury left her below her best.
- She will target the European Championships in Birmingham rather than defend her Commonwealth heptathlon title.
- Nine England athletics athletes have withdrawn, including Dina Asher-Smith and Matthew Hudson-Smith.
- Crowded calendars, late Games dates and rival championships help explain why big names keep stepping aside.
- Organisers say the field remains strong and want clearer windows for future editions.
Why did Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdraw from Glasgow 2026?
Johnson-Thompson, 33, was due to contest her third Commonwealth Games heptathlon after gold on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in Birmingham in 2022. The Olympic silver medallist and two-time world champion said an injury from earlier this season had improved, but not enough.
"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," she said, adding that missing a championship "is never easy" but is "the right decision."
England has replaced her with Niamh Emerson, who took bronze behind Johnson-Thompson in 2018. Coverage of athlete careers and earnings often sits alongside major-event news on BlasterPost's Net Worth & Wealth hub.
Why do athletes keep withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games?
Injury is only part of the story. England's Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson had already skipped Glasgow to prioritise the European Championships, which begin in Birmingham on 10 August. That choice has fuelled debate about where the Games sit in the sporting calendar.
St Lucia's Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has also pulled out, while Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh is favouring the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. With the United States, China and major European nations absent from the Commonwealths, some athletes prefer more competitive meets.
The Games were also hurt by late confirmation of dates and schedule, finalised only in October last year after Victoria abandoned hosting plans in 2023 and the event moved from a March plan. Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadlier said the 18-month runway made finding a clear window hard, and that future talks with other events should help. For the full reporting trail, see the BBC Sport account.
Who else has pulled out of England's Glasgow 2026 squad?
Dina Asher-Smith, set for the relays, is among nine England athletics withdrawals on the eve of the opening ceremony, alongside Olympic 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith, Daryll Neita and Amber Anning. Sky Sports also listed Zac Sneddon, Anna Purchase, Elliot Giles and Jona Efoloko among those out.
England netball star Natalie Metcalf withdrew with a calf injury and has been replaced by Ella Clark. Additions to England's athletics squad include Renee Regis, Ebuka Nwokeji, Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Tom Keen, with track and field due to start on Monday.
Can Glasgow 2026 still deliver without the biggest names?
Organisers insist the event can succeed. Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty pointed to an "incredible field" and said breakthrough moments for younger athletes matter as much as stars at their peak, recalling Glasgow 2014. Scottish medal hopes include mile world-record holder Josh Kerr and defending 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan.
For Johnson-Thompson, the near-term focus is fitness for the Europeans. The wider pattern—injuries, calendar clashes and competing championships—explains why high-profile Commonwealth withdrawals keep stacking up.