Emily Campbell Takes Bronze in Paris

Emily Campbell made a triumphant return to the Olympic stage, securing a bronze medal in the women’s +81kg weightlifting category, becoming the first British weightlifter in over 50 years to win two Olympic medals. The 30-year-old from Nottingham celebrated her achievement with a cartwheel, having set a new personal best of 288kg in the combined snatch and clean-and-jerk disciplines. Despite a valiant attempt to lift 174kg for silver, Campbell finished behind China’s Li Wenwen and South Korea’s Park Hye-jeong. Campbell’s performance marked a significant milestone for Team GB, as her bronze was the 65th and final medal for the team at the Paris Games. Dressed in red, white, and blue braids, she paid homage to her heritage while also showcasing her personality, having a celebrity hairstylist create an Olympic rings logo in her hair. Her achievement mirrors that of Louis Martin, who last won two Olympic medals for Britain in 1964. Although Campbell placed third, her personal best in the snatch at 119kg highlighted her competitive spirit. The gold medalist, Li, despite not being at her peak due to a prior injury, dominated the competition, lifting 10kg more than Park, who was 11kg ahead of Campbell. Reflecting on her journey, Campbell expressed gratitude for the support of her family and friends, emphasizing the significance of their presence in Paris. She acknowledged the heightened competition compared to Tokyo and celebrated her accomplishment, stating, “Tokyo was a bonus, but today I have achieved the goal that I set out to do.”