Kent's Asher-Smith withdraws from Commonwealth Gam...

By Bilal Ahmed — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Asher-Smith’s Withdrawal from Commonwealth Games

Dina Asher-Smith, a prominent athlete from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers, has withdrawn from the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Her withdrawal was announced just hours before the opening ceremony. Asher-Smith was scheduled to compete in the women’s 4x100m relay event.

This marks her absence from the Commonwealth Games, having also missed the 2022 Games in Birmingham due to an injury. Her decision means that Team England has made changes to its squad, with Renee Regis stepping in as her replacement.

Team England athletics team leader Scott Grace extended his best wishes to those who have left the team, whether due to injury or other circumstances. He also expressed excitement about welcoming additional athletes to the squad, highlighting the opportunity for them to represent their country.

Asher-Smith is among several notable athletes who will not participate in the Games. Others include Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Zak Seddon, Amber Anning, and Daryll Neita. The number of competitors from Kent has decreased to nine following Asher-Smith’s withdrawal. Another athlete from Kent, para powerlifter Liam McGarry from Dartford, had previously pulled out last month after a fight against sepsis.

Other Notable Absences and Event Details

Another significant athlete missing from the Commonwealth Games is Keely Hodgkinson. Despite winning silver at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, Hodgkinson will not be participating this time. She indicated earlier in the year that her busy schedule would prevent her from competing, choosing instead to focus on the European Championships, which are also taking place in Birmingham in August.

Former Team GB sprinter Katharine Merry confirmed that Hodgkinson had made the decision not to be involved in Glasgow. Hodgkinson herself stated in an interview in March that she was not going to be competing at the Commonwealth Games due to her commitments.

The Commonwealth Games officially commence on Thursday, with Glasgow serving as the host city for the 23rd edition of the event. More than 3,000 athletes from 74 countries and territories are expected to compete for 215 gold medals across 16 sports over the next 11 days. This year’s Games have been scaled back after the Australian city of Victoria withdrew from hosting duties in 2023, leading to Glasgow stepping in to host, having last done so in 2014.

Despite the smaller scale, the event will feature several top athletes, including Scotland’s new mile world-record holder Josh Kerr, South African swimmer Chad le Clos, and Welsh Olympic cycling hero Emma Finucane. Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the reigning heptathlon champion, and para-cyclist Kadeena Cox are among those named in the Team England squad.

Hodgkinson’s absence follows her teasing a potential change in appearance ahead of her return to action at the European Championships. She recently asked her followers on Instagram whether she should revert to her natural brunette hair from her current blonde look. Hodgkinson has secured endorsement deals with major brands, including Nike, Omega, and Vitality, after winning 800m gold at the Paris Olympics. She has also launched her own collaborative training and racing collection with Nike, a development she described as a lifelong dream in a social media post last week.