Emily Campbell, representing England, clinched her third Commonwealth Games medal, securing gold in the Women’s +86kg weightlifting event at the SEC Armadillo. The victory on Thursday marked her second consecutive gold at the Commonwealth Games, following her win at Birmingham 2022 and a bronze at Gold Coast 2018.
Campbell’s performance included a lift of 115kg in the snatch. She was initially tied with New Zealand’s Tui-Alofa Patolo after the snatch phase of the competition. However, Campbell established a strong lead in the clean and jerk, starting with 148kg on her first attempt and increasing it to 155kg on her second.
The 32-year-old lifter then made two further adjustments to the weight, ultimately setting a new Commonwealth and Games record with a lift of 163kg. This record-breaking attempt brought the crowd at the SEC Armadillo to their feet. Her combined score of 278kg placed her 25kg ahead of her closest competitor.
Following her gold medal win, Campbell reflected on the experience, stating that she knew she had secured the gold after her second clean and jerk lift. She described her final record-breaking lift as “very nearly technically perfect,” noting that she had not lifted such heavy weight in a considerable period.
The atmosphere during the final was described as fervent, with loud cheers and shouts from the audience. Campbell acknowledged the support, saying she could not have asked them to be any louder and that she could barely hear herself think. She responded to her fans by blowing kisses.
Beyond her weightlifting achievements, Campbell revealed that she would be appearing on Celebrity MasterChef. She described the cooking competition as a “really fun experience” and a chance to engage in something outside of her identity as a weightlifter. Campbell expressed a strong passion for food, noting that MasterChef was “definitely more nerve-racking” than the weightlifting competition due to its challenging nature. Her signature dish is Caribbean, a detail she shared to encourage viewers to watch the show.
Future Olympic Participation and Inspiration
Despite her recent success, Campbell indicated that she is considering her participation in the LA Games in 2028, where she could potentially aim for a third Olympic medal. She candidly spoke about the physical toll of weightlifting, mentioning that “it hurts everywhere” and that lifting serious weight requires a sensible approach. She plans to strategize with her team and evaluate the practicalities before committing to the qualification process, which would begin at the end of the year if she decides to pursue it.
During the event, Canada’s Etta Mae Love, an 18-year-old who won bronze in the same category, spoke about Campbell being an inspiration when she started weightlifting. Campbell found this surreal but expressed that if she can inspire someone to pursue their passion, she feels she has achieved more than just her job.
Other Weightlifting Results
In other weightlifting events at Glasgow 2026, Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman, 20, of Malaysia, secured silver in the Women’s +86kg category. Malaysia topped the weightlifting medal table with five golds and a bronze. Canada’s Etta Mae, 18, earned the bronze medal.
In the Men’s 110kg event, Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi won gold, marking Fiji’s first medal of Glasgow 2026. Rainibogi led after the snatch with a lift of 170kg. England’s Cyrille Tchatchet II challenged him with a 204kg clean and jerk. Rainibogi responded with a 208kg lift, setting a new Games record and securing first place. Canada’s Xavier Lusignan failed at 209kg, and Samoa’s Jack Hitila Opeloge made three unsuccessful attempts at 210kg.
The weightlifting competition concluded with David Liti winning gold in the +110kg category, overcoming India’s Lovepreet Singh. Singh had lifted 212kg with his second clean and jerk. Liti then successfully attempted a Games record of 223kg, securing his third Games medal and second gold. England’s Andrew Griffiths took bronze in this event.
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Source: theguardian.com
