Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith are missing for England

Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith are missing for England

According to Skysports.

Context

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, following her victories in 2018 and 2022, was one of the favorites for the heptathlon, while Dina Asher-Smith, who would compete in the relays, is also a central figure in British athletics. Their retirement highlights the challenges faced by elite athletes, especially in relation to injuries and the need to prioritize recovery for future competitions.

Why this matters

The absence of Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith from the 2026 Commonwealth Games represents a significant blow to England's medal hopes. Both are elite athletes, with Johnson-Thompson a heptathlon champion and Asher-Smith an Olympic medalist, and their injuries raise concerns about the future of British athletics in international competition.

Main conclusions

• Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith are missing for England.
• Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith will not take part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, affecting England's medal chances.
• Commonwealth Games 2026: Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Dina Asher-Smith and netball star Natalie Metcalf outside Glasgow 202.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are about to begin, but England already faces a major challenge with the announcement that two of its top athletes, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith, will not take part in the event. Johnson-Thompson, who was one of the favorites for the heptathlon and already won gold medals in the 2018 editions in Gold Coast and 2022 in Birmingham, retired due to an injury that prevented her from returning to her best competitive level. In her words, she expressed her disappointment: "I am devastated to have to withdraw from this year's Commonwealth Games. I was so looking forward to competing at home and getting the chance to defend my title!" Although his injury has improved, Johnson-Thompson has decided to prioritize his recovery to be fit for the European Championships later in the season. Dina Asher-Smith, also an Olympic medalist, has announced her retirement without providing specific details, but is believed to be focusing on her participation in the fast-approaching European Championships in Birmingham. The decision by Asher-Smith and other athletes to forgo competing in Glasgow reflects the difficulty of balancing such a tight competitive schedule. In addition to them, other prominent athletes such as Matthew Hudson-Smith and Daryll Neita also retired, further complicating England's hopes of winning medals. The impact of absences is significant, as these athletes are essential to the team. Other names who also dropped out include Amber Anning, Zac Sneddon, Anna Purchase, Elliot Giles and Jona Efoloko, all of whom announced their withdrawals on the day of the opening ceremony. On an already complicated day for the team,Netball player Natalie Metcalf also withdrew due to a calf injury. Metcalf was part of the team that won the gold medal in Australia in 2018 and will now be replaced by Ella Clark. The atmosphere at the Commonwealth Games is tense for England, which will now need to adapt quickly and find new strategies to face the competition without its stars. The expectation is that the competitions will begin soon and that other athletes will be able to stand out, but the shadow of Johnson-Thompson and Asher-Smith's withdrawals will certainly be felt throughout the event.

What happens next

With the two stars out of the competition, England will have to rely on other athletes such as Matthew Hudson-Smith and Daryll Neita, who have also withdrawn. The focus now turns to the European Championships, where Johnson-Thompson and Asher-Smith hope to be in shape to represent the country and seek new achievements, especially after the Commonwealth Games.