Eilish McColgan, Scotland’s star athlete, has pulled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, dealing another significant blow to the home event. The 10,000m champion announced her withdrawal on Saturday, citing persistent toe issues that followed the London Marathon.
Why Eilish McColgan Withdrew
McColgan revealed that after nearly 10 weeks off following the London Marathon, she simply ran out of time to properly prepare for the demanding track event. “The good news is I’m back running. The bad news is I’ve simply run out of time to get myself, and my toe, back into spikes,” she said. The injury prevented her from transitioning to racing form in time for the championships.
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Impact on the Commonwealth Games
McColgan joins a growing list of elite athletes who have withdrawn from the Glasgow 2026 Games. Her absence is particularly felt as she was set to defend her 10,000m title in front of a home crowd. Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland’s chef de mission, supported the decision, calling McColgan “a legend of Scottish sport.”
Other Notable Withdrawals
The following table compares some of the biggest names missing from the Commonwealth Games:
| Athlete | Country | Event | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eilish McColgan | Scotland | 10,000m | Toe injury |
| Katarina Johnson-Thompson | England | Heptathlon | Calf injury |
| Dina Asher-Smith | England | 100m/200m | Undisclosed |
| Matt Hudson-Smith | England | 400m | Undisclosed |
| Keely Hodgkinson | England | 800m | Prioritizing European Championships |
| Julien Alfred | St Lucia | 100m | Undisclosed |
Key Takeaways
- Eilish McColgan will not defend her 10,000m title at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
- She suffered a toe injury after the London Marathon and couldn’t recover in time.
- Her withdrawal adds to a series of high-profile absences from the home Games.
- McColgan emphasized this is not the end of her season and she plans to race soon.
- The event has lost multiple Olympic and world medalists, raising concerns about star power.