Emily Campbell is the most decorated British weightlifter in modern history and one of the country’s leading Olympic and Commonwealth athletes.

Making history at Tokyo 2020, she became the first British woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting, claiming silver. She added a bronze medal at Paris 2024, confirming her place among the sport’s elite at international level.

Her Commonwealth Games career has been equally significant. After winning bronze at Gold Coast 2018, Emily returned at Birmingham 2022 to win gold in the +87kg category with a record-breaking performance. This completed a rare sweep of medals across the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games within a single year.

At Glasgow 2026, 32-year-old Campbell took a strong lead in the Women's 86kg+ with a clean and jerk of 148kg on her first attempt, then increased it to 155kg on her second.

She twice stopped the clock to increase the weight, and with her final attempt set a new Commonwealth and Games record of 163kg that brought the Armadillo crowd to their feet.

“I didn’t know I secured the gold with my first lift,” Campbell said afterwards. “It was execute three nice clean and jerks, and I realised with the second one. I knew that once I’d done that I had definitely won. 

“I haven’t gone that heavy in a long time. I’ve watched it back and it’s very nearly technically perfect.”

In the Total category of the Women's +86kg, Emily Campbell lifted a total of 278kg, just 3kg below her Commonwealth Record of 281kg, but above the Games Record of 277kg.

In the Clean & Jerk category of the Women's +86kg, Emily Campbell lifted 163kg, beating the established Games Record of 154kg, and her established Commonwealth record of 161kg.