In a major blow to the British marathon scene, Emile Cairess has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 London Marathon due to a persistent calf injury. The 28-year-old, who sits third on the British all-time list, was considered a prime contender to challenge Sir Mo Farah's national record of 2:05:11.

This marks the second consecutive year Cairess will miss the iconic London event, having also withdrawn from the 2025 race with an ankle tendon issue. The calf problem, which emerged earlier in his training block, has continued to hinder his preparation, leaving him unable to reach the peak condition required for such a competitive race.

"I am gutted to be withdrawing," Cairess stated. "After missing last year, I was so excited at the prospect of returning. But out of respect to both the race and the marathon distance, I only want to be on the start line if I'm in the best possible condition." He expressed his hope to return to the London Marathon in 2027.

Cairess, who boasts a personal best of 2:06:46 set in Valencia, had previously expressed confidence that he was in shape to break Farah's record. His withdrawal follows the news that women's world champion Peres Jepchirchir has also pulled out of the event, underscoring the fine line elite athletes walk in their demanding training regimes.

The 2026 London Marathon is set for Sunday, April 26th, and will now proceed without one of its most anticipated British challengers.