Eilish McColgan: Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games loses one of its star attractions after 'exploding' injury

Glasgow 2026 has lost one of its star attractions with the withdrawal of Eilish McColgan through injury.

The Dundee runner was due to defend the women's 10,000m title she won so memorably at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham but has not been able to recover from the toe injury she sustained at the London Marathon.

It was so bad, McColgan said it felt like her foot had “exploded”.

Eilish McColgan helped launch the Commonwealth Games mascot, a unicorn named Finnie, in front of Kelvingrove Art Gallery to promote Glasgow 2026. | PA

Having been the headline act in Birmingham, McColgan has been one of the main images used to promote Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games but she will now have only a watching brief.

Games have come too soon

It’s a blow for the organisers as well as the thousands of spectators who had hoped to see her run at Scotstoun this week. She is making a good recovery from the injury but the Games have come too soon.

“Sadly, I won't be competing at Glasgow 2026,” said McColgan, who also won silver over 5000m at Birmingham 2022. “After almost 10 weeks out following the London Marathon with my toe injury, it probably won't come as a huge surprise.

“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. Having started the year stronger than ever, I know the fitness is there but having only taken my first run outdoors a couple of weeks ago, the clock was always against me.

“While these Games have come a few weeks too early for me, this isn't the end of my season and I can't wait to get back racing soon.

“I'll be in Glasgow all week cheering on Team Scotland and wish everyone on the team the best of luck at the Games.”

Scotland will still be represented in the women’s 10,000m in Glasgow, with Megan Keith due to compete. The Inverness runner is a European Championship bronze medallist and will also go in the 5000m.

Emulated her mother

In winning gold in Birmingham, McColgan emulated her mother Liz, who was a double Commonwealth champion over 10,000m.

Eilish is transitioning into marathon running but suffered a terrible injury in London in April. It started as a blister but quickly deteriorated and her foot was covered in blood during the race.

The blood is visible on Eilish McColgan's right foot as she crosses the finish line during the 2026 TCS London Marathon. | PA

“It sounds strange but the only way I can say it is I felt like my foot just exploded,” she said at the time. “I had this massive tear and I thought ‘what the hell is that?’”

Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland’s chef de mission, expressed sympathy for McColgan. “We're sad that Eilish won’t be competing at Glasgow 2026 as we know just how much it meant to her to defend her Commonwealth title in front of a home crowd,” she said.

“Eilish is a legend of Scottish sport and her incredible 10,000m gold-medal victory in Birmingham will go down as one of the defining moments in Commonwealth Games history.

“She has worked tirelessly to give herself every opportunity to be on the start line, and we completely support her decision not to return before she's ready to compete at her very best.

“We're delighted she'll still be with us in Glasgow supporting Team Scotland and wish her every success for the rest of the season.”