Nottingham’s Olympic silver medallist, weightlifter Emily Campbell, 27, features in the recently released campaign launch film for Team England ahead of next summer’s Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham.

Campbell, who features alongside that of fellow athletes Max Whitlock MBE (Gymnastics), Kadeena Cox MBE (Para Athletics), Tom Dean (Swimming) Emily Campbell (Weightlifting), Alex Yee (Triathlon), Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Wheelchair Basketball), Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (Diving), Chelsie & Josh Giles (Judo), Niall Farrell (Boxing), finished second behind Chinese powerhouse, Li Wenwen, at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Wenwen, in that +87kg category, is the reigning Chinese National, Asian, World and Olympic champion, at just 21-years-old – Campbell certainly had her work cut out in Tokyo, but she added the silver to two European medals, bronze in 2019 (Georgia), and gold in 2021 (Russia), whilst at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, on Australia’s Gold Coast, she came home with a bronze also.

Moving ahead to next summer however, and at Birmingham 2022, Team England’s new campaign is seen to celebrate what competing on home soil means to the athletes, as well as shining a bright light on the people, and the communities who they’re aiming to bring success ‘home’ for.

This will also be the most diverse Team England ever, with hundreds of athletes, from every corner of the country, competing to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jonathan Edwards CBE, and Dame Kelly Holmes, and capitalize on what is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring home success in their own country.

Bulwell-born, Emily Campbell, Britain’s first ever, female, Olympic medal-winning weightlifter, shared with Team England her thoughts of being driven by the inclusivity of sport and the helping others to feel a part of something.

She said: “I’m ‘bringing it home for’ the ones that feel like they don’t belong.

“Before I got into weightlifting, I was the same, but now I feel part of something special.”

Her recent success, at the Tokyo Games, is testament to her hard work and she’s already looking ahead to Birmingham 2022 with high hopes of representing Team England once again, aiming to follow-up on her bronze medal performance at the Gold Coast back in 2018.

Alongside Emily, is that of Max Whitlock MBE, himself a four-time Commonwealth champion in gymnastics (three in Glasgow, 2014, and one on the Gold Coast in 2018), a highly decorated athlete.

Commenting on the excitement of having crowds back at next year’s Games, as well as the chance to inspire future generations, Max added: “I’m ‘bringing it home’ for all aspiring gymnasts up and down the country.

“We’ve missed cheering gymnasts on, bringing that back to Birmingham would be unbelievable.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games England, Paul Blanchard, said at the launch of Bring It Home: “Nothing will feel more special to those selected to represent Team England than competing in front of a home crowd.

“It’s important to connect our diverse set of athletes with the fans ahead of what’s going to be an incredible Games next year in Birmingham.”

The heroes of Tokyo 2020, as well as numerous, upcoming stars, have united to raise awareness of the home team at the Commonwealth Games next year in Team England’s ‘Bring It Home’ campaign.

Each and every athlete has been supported over the years by friends, family, coaches, teachers, and all have people or places they want to Bring It Home to or for.

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event with a fully integrated programme of para-sport disciplines and next year’s Games promises to be extra special, with full stadiums and arenas after Tokyo 2020 took place behind closed doors.

Birmingham 2022 is set to have the largest ever female and para-sport programme in history after new disciplines of Women’s T20 Cricket, Beach Volleyball and Para-Table Tennis, were all confirmed.

Keep up-to-date with the progress of Team England via their socials Facebook, Twitter and Instagram whilst you can follow the progress of Emily Campbell on her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and watch the ‘Bring It Home’ video, featuring Nottingham’s Emily Campbell, via YouTube HERE

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Brownskinjessie Campbell is already in training for next years Commonwealth Games.