Johnson-Thompson skipped Commonwealth title defence for home Europeans — and finished last

Katarina Johnson-Thompson withdrew from defending her Commonwealth Games heptathlon title to be fit for the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. She had competed just once since the 2023 World Championships — a shot put in Loughborough in May. She finished 21st of 21. "I've not been able to put the work in," she said. Kate O'Connor of Ireland took gold.