Katarina Johnson-Thompson out of Commonwealth Games
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games with injury, answering why more stars are withdrawing. In short, the Katarina johnsonthompson commonwealth wi story is about fitness and calendar clash: she is not match-fit and will prioritise August's European Championships over defending her heptathlon gold in Glasgow.
Key Takeaways
- Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdrew from Glasgow 2026 because of injury and incomplete fitness.
- She will target the European Championships in Birmingham next month instead of a third Commonwealth heptathlon title.
- Dina Asher-Smith, Matt Hudson-Smith, Daryll Neita and Amber Anning were also replaced in Team England's athletics squad.
- High-profile absences, late scheduling and rival championships help explain why athletes keep withdrawing.
What happened to Katarina Johnson-Thompson at Glasgow 2026?
According to BBC Sport, the 33-year-old Olympic silver medallist and two-time world champion pulled out on the day of the opening ceremony. She was due to contest her third Commonwealth Games heptathlon after golds on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in Birmingham in 2022.
Johnson-Thompson said she has "not been able to get back to the level" needed to compete and will focus on being fit for the European Championships. "Missing a championship is never easy, but I know it's the right decision," she added. Niamh Emerson, bronze medallist behind her in 2018, replaces her in England's squad.
Why do athletes keep withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games?
Injury is only part of the picture. England's Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson had already skipped Glasgow to prioritise the Europeans, which begin in Birmingham on 10 August. St Lucia's Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has also pulled out, while Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh is favouring the Pan Pacific Championships.
With the United States, China and major European nations outside the Commonwealth, some athletes prefer more competitive meets. The Games were also hurt by late confirmation of dates and schedule, only finalised in October last year after Victoria abandoned hosting plans in 2023 and forced a scramble into an 18-month window.
Who else from England is out, and does it still matter?
Asher-Smith and Olympic 400m silver medallist Hudson-Smith, both set for relays, have been replaced, along with Neita and Anning. The Times reported Johnson-Thompson among nine English athletes out of the Commonwealths. Additions to England's athletics squad include Renee Regis, Ebuka Nwokeji, Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Tom Keen, with track and field starting on Monday.
Organisers still insist the event will succeed. Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty pointed to younger athletes and "breakthrough" moments, while Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadlier said future talks with other events should create a clearer calendar window. For fans following star power and career economics across sport, more context sits in our Net Worth & Wealth coverage.