- Written by Dan Roan
- BBC Sports Editor
image source, Getty Images
Emily Campbell wins silver medal at Tokyo Olympics
“It's so important to remember where you come from and give back, not just as an athlete,” said Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting Emily Campbell.
The 29-year-old is part of a new initiative to help Team GB and Para GB members support good causes in their local communities upon their return from this summer's Paris Games.
The ChangeMakers program matches athletes with social impact projects during a two-week window immediately following the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
And Campbell, the first British woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal, said she wanted to encourage her teammates to use the Olympic platform to “talk about topics that mean so much to us”.
“As a nation, we focus so much on wins and medals, but there's actually a big, overarching message to the Olympics,” she told BBC Sport.
“It's about unity and the whole world coming together, and if we can take that message into our community, we have a great opportunity two weeks from now.”
The ChangeMakers initiative is a partnership between Team GB, Paralympic GB and Allwyn, the National Lottery's new operator, which has funded elite performance agency UK Sport since 1997.
Athletes can choose the projects they want to support, from grassroots sports and mental health initiatives to environmental programs.
According to UK Sport, 86% of funded athletes want to use their platform to “make a difference in society” while continuing to compete, and 66% of British adults say they want athletes to He said he believes he has a role to play in championing the causes he believes in.
Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Campbell, who is close to qualifying for his second Paris Olympics, said: “This is something very close to my heart and it's a great way to end what I hope will be a great event. I guess so.''
“We will be able to give back to the communities we come from, like my community in Nottingham.
“As athletes, we put our heart and soul into representing our country and making everyone proud, but we are also human beings and have our own passions outside of sport. I know most athletes don't want people to think they're just a machine.''We're human beings who grew up in a community.
“I use my voice to help more children and young women feel strong, healthy, and confident by using my voice to have positive conversations, especially about body image, and by tackling outdated views about women's appearance and health. We want to give you the power you need.
“With social media, there's an underlying pressure on people to look a certain way, and we're all unique for a reason, and that comes in all shapes and sizes and ethnicities. , it should be celebrated. People who don't want it. You have to challenge it to make it happen, and that's what I'm going to do.”
“Everyone wants to level up, but it's a difficult area,” she says.
“I just have to work and make myself the best I can be, and if I can be rewarded with a little bit of sparkle, I'll be overjoyed.”
