Portugal Colonial - Heptathlon champion Johnson-Thompson joins list of Commonwealth Games absentees

The 33-year-old double defending heptathlon champion -- also a silver medallist at the 2024 Olympics in Paris -- was one of nine withdrawals from the England athletics squad on Thursday.

Team-mates who also pulled out just hours before the opening ceremony in the Scottish city included Johnson-Thompson's fellow Olympic medallists Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Amber Anning.

Johnson, twice a world heptathlon champion and a bronze medallist at last year's edition in Tokyo, will now join Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson, who did not pursue Commonwealth selection, in concentrating on next month's European Championships in Birmingham.

"I'm gutted to have to pull out of this year's Commonwealth Games," said Johnson on social media. "I was so looking forward to competing on home soil and having the chance to defend my Commonwealth title!

"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."

The 33-year-old added: "After discussing it with my team, we've made the difficult decision to focus on giving myself the best chance of being ready for the European Championships, so working very hard to be there later this season.

"Missing a championship is never easy, but I know it's the right decision. I can't wait to be back competing again soon."

Leading international competitors who had previously pulled out of the Games include St Lucia's reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, Hodgkinson's 800m rival Mary Moraa of Kenya and Olympic swimming medallists Summer McIntosh (Canada) and Kaylee McKeown (Australia).

T.Resende--PC