What's happened
Emily Campbell secured a bronze medal in the women's +81kg weightlifting category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, achieving a personal best of 288kg. This victory marks her second Olympic medal, making her the first British weightlifter to achieve this in over 50 years.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Alexandra Topping in The Guardian, Campbell expressed her joy, stating, "It’s absolutely incredible, we’ve had a fantastic Games... I’m just so happy." Mark Staniforth from The Independent noted her celebratory cartwheel, emphasizing the personal significance of her achievement: "When I started weightlifting the plan was to make the Olympics in Paris and try to go for a medal." Both articles highlight the competitive nature of the event, with Topping mentioning the higher level of competition compared to Tokyo, and Staniforth noting that Campbell was the only British weightlifter at the Games.
How we got here
Campbell's achievement comes after her silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Competing against a stronger field in Paris, she aimed to improve her performance and secure another medal for Great Britain.
Common question
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What Does Emily Campbell's Olympic Bronze Medal Mean for British Weightlifting?
Emily Campbell's recent achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics has sparked interest and pride in British weightlifting. As the first British weightlifter to win two Olympic medals in over 50 years, her success raises questions about the future of the sport in the UK, her personal journey, and the broader implications for athletes in the country.
More on these topics
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The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.
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Li Wenwen is a Chinese weightlifter, Olympic Champion, World Champion and Asian champion competing in the women's +87 kg division.
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Emily Campbell is an English weightlifter. She competed in the women's +90 kg event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, winning the bronze medal.