Emile Cairess, one of Britain's top marathon runners, has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming London Marathon due to a persistent calf injury.
The 28-year-old athlete, who holds the third-fastest marathon time in British history, announced his withdrawal after the injury hampered his training preparations. Cairess had been considered a strong contender to challenge Sir Mo Farah's British record of 2:05:11 at this year's event.
"I am gutted to be withdrawing from the 2026 London Marathon," Cairess said in a statement. "After missing the 2025 race, I was so excited at the prospect of returning this year, but out of respect to both the race and the distance, I only want to be on the start line if I'm in the best possible condition."
This marks the second consecutive year Cairess has been sidelined from the London Marathon. He also missed the 2025 event due to an ankle tendon issue, despite having finished third in 2024 and placing fourth in the marathon at the Paris Olympics.
The calf problem first emerged earlier this year and has continued to affect his training regimen. Cairess acknowledged the difficult decision to withdraw, stating, "I've done my best to be on the start line but, unfortunately, I have to make the tough decision to withdraw. I wish everyone taking part the very best of luck and hope to be back at the London Marathon next year."
Cairess, who boasts a personal best of 2:06:46, had previously expressed confidence in his ability to break Farah's record, telling reporters in January that he had felt ready to achieve that milestone for the past two years.
The London Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, April 26, has now lost two high-profile athletes in recent days. World champion Peres Jepchirchir also withdrew from the women's race earlier this week after her training was disrupted by a stress fracture.
Cairess's absence represents a significant blow to British hopes at this year's event, where he was expected to be among the leading contenders for a podium finish and potentially make history with a new national record.