Johnson-Thompson and Asher-Smith Withdraw from Commonwealth Games
UKPulse Sport Desk
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Dina Asher-Smith have pulled out of the Commonwealth Games due to injury. The withdrawals are a significant blow to the event, which begins in Glasgow on Monday.
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith have withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to injury
- The withdrawals come on the day of the opening ceremony, a significant blow to the event
- Johnson-Thompson has been replaced by Niamh Emerson, while Asher-Smith's spot will be taken by Renee Regis
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games due to injury. The 33-year-old was set to compete in her third heptathlon, having won gold on the Gold Coast in 2018 and at Birmingham in 2022.
Johnson-Thompson's withdrawal is a significant blow to the event, which begins in Glasgow on Monday. She said she has 'not been able to get back to the level' needed to compete and will instead focus on being fit for the European Championships next month.
'Missing a championship is never easy, but I know it's the right decision,' she said. Johnson-Thompson has been replaced in England's squad by Niamh Emerson, who took bronze behind Johnson-Thompson in 2018.
In addition to Johnson-Thompson, sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and 400m runner Amber Anning have also been replaced due to injury. Asher-Smith's spot will be taken by Renee Regis, while Anning's place will be filled by Tara Simpson-Sullivan.
The withdrawals come on the day of the opening ceremony, a significant blow to the event. However, Scottish athletics medal hopes include new mile world record holder Josh Kerr and defending 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan.
Why this matters: The withdrawals of high-profile athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson, are a significant blow to the Commonwealth Games. This means that UK fans may not see some of their favourite athletes compete in the event.
What this means for you: What this means for you: If you were looking forward to watching Katarina Johnson-Thompson compete in the Commonwealth Games, you may be disappointed to hear that she has withdrawn due to injury. However, the event still promises to be an exciting spectacle with many talented athletes participating.