Katarina Johnson-Thompson, one of Britain's top athletes, has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, along with several other high-profile athletes. Johnson-Thompson, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, had been expected to target a hat-trick of titles in Glasgow, but her withdrawal has dealt a significant blow to the competition's organisers. The reason for her withdrawal is not immediately clear, but it is believed she may be prioritising the European Championships in Birmingham next month.
Johnson-Thompson is one of nine members of the England athletics team to withdraw from the Games, alongside Dina Asher-Smith, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Daryll Neita. Fellow Olympic medallists Amber Anning, Zac Sneddon, Anna Purchase, Elliot Giles and Jona Efoloko have also announced their withdrawals. The losses have significantly impacted England's athletics team, who will now face a tough task in regrouping for the competition.
This is not the first time that high-profile athletes have withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games. Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson decided not to pursue selection for the Glasgow Games, while multiple Olympic swimming medallists Kaylee McKeown and Summer McIntosh, along with Hodgkinson's 800m rival Mary Moraa, have also pulled out. Away from the athletics track, triple Olympic gymnastics champion Max Whitlock was forced to call time on his comeback bid earlier this month due to injury.
The withdrawals have raised questions about the hectic schedule faced by athletes, with several top competitors having to make difficult decisions about which competitions to prioritise. The European Championships in Birmingham next month will likely be a major focus for many athletes, including Johnson-Thompson, who will have to carefully consider her options in the coming weeks.