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Leeds Beckett graduate Emily Campbell makes Olympic weightlifting history
Emily, a former sports scholarship student at the University, became the first Team GB athlete to win a weightlifting medal since British middle-heavyweight lifter David Mercer claimed bronze in the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and a first British silver medal since Louis Martin in the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Emily secured silver after an incredible 161kg lift in the clean and jerk, after lifting 122kg in the snatch for a combined weight of 283kg. China's Li Wenwen captured gold breaking all three Olympic records in the snatch (140kg), clean and jerk (180kg) and overall score (320kg).
Emily transitioned from competing in the hammer to weightlifting after realising her talents and passion for the sport while working with former LBU strength & conditioning coach Brendan Chaplin and former intern Yousef Ziu.
Since her transition Emily's success has continued to grow, including becoming a British champion, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, a European Weightlifting champion and now an Olympic silver medallist.
Michael Hill, Sports Performance and Coaching Manager at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Emily that she has become the first ever British female to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting,
“Emily’s transition from hammer to weightlifting has been amazing, and her silver medal shows how dedicated and talented she is as an athlete,
“We are proud to recognise her as a former sports scholarship student and she is a perfect example of the incredible athletes we have had develop through our ranks at Leeds Beckett University and go on to achieve greatness.”