Video: Emily Campbell on her aims for Gold Coast 2018
Three Nottinghamshire weightlifters who train at the same gym have been called up to represent Team GB at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Emily Campbell and Laura Hewitt, both 23, live in Nottinghamshire and train at Atlas Weightlifting Club in Alfreton.
Joining them is 35-year-old para-powerlifter Natalie Blake who trains at PHP Fitness in Newark.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games take place at Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia from April 4 until April 15.
Emily Campbell has been weightlifting for two years and will represent her country for the first time at a games.
Speaking on Sports Week, she said: “It’s an absolute honour – it’s everything an English athlete could want in their career and to achieve it is another level.
“It’s mental to think two years ago I couldn’t do a snatch and now I’m going to compete against some of the best people in the Commonwealth.
“I’ve trained very hard to be where I am and hopefully my hard work has paid off.”
Emily shared what were some of the challenges she faced in making the grade in such a short space of time.
She said: “Learning the technique was difficult because I came from athletics doing hammer throw and shotput.
“I had the power and strength and had the mechanical characteristics of being able to lift but the technique is very hard to learn the skill.
“You need to be flexible, mobile and fast – people think you need to just be powerful but you actually have to have a lot of components to be able to lift.”
For more from Emily, watch the January 17 episode of Sports Week on Notts TV at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday January 17), or see our catch up service shortly after broadcast.
