EMILY CAMPBELL: WHAT I HAVE SACRIFICED TO GET TO THE OLYMPICS

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2:32go. Welcome. Maybe introduce yourself first. Oh, and you. I'm Jemima, the producer. My name is Jamie Lang and I'm the host of Great Company. And this is our show that we do together. Great Company. Great Company. God, we're smooth. No, it's unbelievable. It's like we've done. It's actually like a game of tennis. Yeah, I was actually I don't think that was actually that smooth. I thought it was smooth. Really? One day. Okay. Maybe I'll script it one time. Wait, you didn't think it Should I script it one time? No Yeah, that'll be fun See if anyone will notice Are you kidding me? Hello When we do a recording Yeah Question for you Question Are you really in it?

3:14Are you taking notes or no? Yeah Oh, you are? No, I'm not taking notes You don't take notes? Oh, no Someone actually does take notes Okay So our assistant producer, Galena Will do time codes Lovely Galena Lovely Galena Will take time codes So she takes notes throughout and you sit there you're in it you're listening because what are you listening for uh what you're doing okay i'm trying to follow you you're my little runaway train sometimes sometimes have i been going off track sometimes recently sometimes a little bit maybe no we did have a recording the other day where i think save it though because it's gonna come out maybe i'll save it but yeah that one was that one was like whoa i'm also thinking it was about it was about ADHD and we know that I have I think you just lent right into it you went I'm not even going to try and keep these on stay on the rails and I did warn you this is an episode coming I did warn you that that was going to happen yeah yeah no it was great but I was that one I was very focused of like okay that goes there I'm thinking about the edit as well so you think about how you can jigsaw it together yeah so how did you say that word?

4:21jigsaw jigsaw do you not say jigsaw? jigsaw jigsaw Weird. It's got a G, not a C. Is it jigsaw? Yeah. I've always said jigsaw. Why have I said that? You sound like I've got an X, Nick. J-I-X. That's math for me. Jigsaw. Okay, today, very exciting because we have Emily Campbell. Yes. Emily Campbell is a weightlifter. She is competing in the Olympics. So exciting. Which is very, very, very, very, very exciting. Where were you for, do you remember London 2012? I was at the final of the 100 metres. Were you? I was there in the stadium, yeah What a glorious time And I played a lot of sport as a kid And so I did athletics and lots of different things And so I can appreciate in some form Of what commitment you have to do And training you have to do Don't you think for the Olympics there should be a normal person In every, so like 100, in the races 100 metres, you should have someone who's like Good amateur Running it, so you can be like, fuck that's fast But they would just lose Oh yeah, no, but it's just Oh, they're definitely not going to win.

5:26But so you can, I can't appreciate how fast 100 metres in like nine seconds is when they're all kind of doing it around nine seconds. It is so fast. Whereas if you had a normal path, how fast could you run 100 metres at your fastest? I was quite quick. I was around 10, 8, 11, 10, 8 seconds, 11 seconds. Fine. So someone like that running, you would see how big that gap is of a second. Well, a second it would be 15 metres. Exactly. So that's why I think you should have a normal person just so you can be like, wow, that's fast. Maybe we should talk to them about it. Yeah, or like a javelin, like a normal person throwing a javelin.

6:04I threw the javelin quite far. How far did you throw it? 42 metres. I still hold the school record. Javelin world record. I think it's 92 or 102. Men. 102, 92. 98. 98, it was close. Yeah, I threw it 42 metres. Sorry, you threw it 48 metres and this is 90. 42. 42 metres. Yeah, but I was like 10. Yeah, yeah, okay, fine. But still, double. Imagine that. You'd be like, wow, that's so far. It's very far. And a normal person picking up weights. Yeah. I once did a class and I took a 1K. Okay. Emily, she's picking up a lot more than a 1K. Emily Campbell is an incredible weightlifter and her story is even better.

6:45It's unbelievable what she has been through, what she has, her dedication to the sport, the sort of ups and downs she's had in her life. I can, I'm really excited for this. And also I want to see if she really opens up in this episode. Yeah. She's an amazing character. And like women's weightlifting had its funding removed. So I had no idea how expensive it is to be an athlete. Oh, really expensive. Yeah. It's really, that's the trickiest thing about becoming an athlete is that you have to sort of pay your way until you get sponsorships and things like that. Yeah. All the kit that you wear, subscription stuff, training costs money, but then time.

7:21Like if you have a normal job and you're meant to be training six hours a day. You've got to split it. That's what Emily does. Yeah. But like, well, how do you do that when you've got to earn money to pay for that stuff? It is mad. So yeah, she's got an amazing story. Anyway, this episode is going to be amazing. I cannot wait for it. So sit back, relax. If you haven't followed and subscribed to the show, please do. and get ready for Emily Campbell on Great Company. Hi, I'm Emily Campbell and I'm Great Company.

7:53Are you dating anyone? I'm not. I'm very much single, but I'm very much, you know, open. That Olympic village? Yeah.

8:03Absolutely, yeah. Because I would love to know what goes down in the Olympic village. Yeah. You've got that gold medal round your neck. You're walking around. I mean, yeah, this is the thing, isn't it? Lots of fit people all in the same place, all had a lot of discipline for four years of their life as well. All of a sudden the discipline's gone. I reckon people be shagging. I think you're right. I think you're right. People will be out in the streets, as they say. You're so right. There's a lot of discipline. There's a lot of that bum, bum, bum, bum. You finish your event. And everyone finishes at different times.

8:40Yeah. Do people then in the Olympic Village tend to let loose a little bit when once they've done their event, they've completed it? Because you've got to mix the light with the shade, right? Yeah, no, absolutely. It was actually quite funny because where we was positioned, Team GB are dead fancy and they get in the village dead quick and pick their spot of where they want their flat to be. And it's all got to be dead perfect for us. And we actually picked the flat where there was a massive field opposite and that ended up being the party field. so as you started to see as people started to finish parties just used and them poor little pickers in the morning bless them they used to have to pick up the most amount of nonsense and I used to have a balcony used to sit in the morning in the balcony used to think oh no they're out there again picking up little but yeah I reckon honestly the most wild ones I'd definitely say are definitely the swimmers they're bonkers like they're absolutely bonkers I was swimming in water fantis and all sorts last time yeah they are bonkers bless them but yeah Everyone gets a bit turned up.

9:39And do you know what? Damn right. Yeah. A hundred percent. Absolutely. You have to party. You have to party. You have to have fun. The peak, the world's greatest athletes have been disciplined for four years for this moment. And, you know, some of it, it lasts seconds. It lasts minutes. You're waiting for that one moment. Deserve to go and have fun. you deserve to go and do whatever you want to do and deserve to go and sleep with whoever you want. If I was in the Olympic Village, I would create chaos. I feel like you would, Jamie. I feel like you would, but yeah, no, you definitely get your pick and there's obviously every country from all over the world.

10:28Anyone you got your eye on? I haven't in particular, but I always do enjoy when you scout out in the food hall, you see, because people walk in, start to have a look at everyone in the food hall. You're like, but you know, you get some very good looking basketball players from across the world. So, you know, and they're always very, very tall as well because you always get tall basketball players, but Olympic basketball players are even taller. You're talking like six foot eight, six foot nines. Do you know what I mean? Those kind of tools. Okay, we know your type. We got it. Yes. Do you know what I mean?

10:56Obviously, you've got to be strong as well, but you know. I love that. But no, it's nice. And you know what? People make beautiful all over the world. Yeah, it's a beautiful thing, but the Olympic Village after will be chaos, I can imagine. The one thing that I want to talk about as well is, and you sort of, you spoke about this and sort of phrased it, so about body positivity. And I think you said in an interview, you were like, I don't know why I'm being asked a question or something, because you wouldn't ask a man that same question about my body. And body positivity doesn't mean looking a particular way, does it?

11:34No. It's about how you feel about yourself. It's about how you express yourself, how you present yourself to people, you know? And yeah, I feel like, you know, still in sport, females are so focused on, you know, how we look or, you know, oh, why she got that lipstick on? Why she perform and don't think she should have that on? Or why is her hair like that? Or, you know, what outfit are you wearing today? You know, when journalists go, oh, talk me through your outfit. Well, if you said that to Roderfegger, he'd tell you to fuck off, wouldn't he? Let's be real. Do you know what I mean? It's like, you just wouldn't ask that question.

12:06Do you know what I mean? Like, this is why you've got to like, you've got to thank our sisters like Serena and stuff for just shutting people down for stupid questions like that. Do you know what I mean? Because it's just nonsense. Like it's absolute nonsense. And you know, the reason why I think I speak about it is because when I first came into my journey, obviously, you know, being, I'm a plus size female, you know, very proud to be a plus size female as well. And, you know, I had to create this body to do my sport most effectively. You know, I wasn't this big when I first started weightlifting, but for me to be able to compete, you know, I compete against girls that are, you know, 20, 30 kilos heavier than me, you know.

12:38So, you know, I had to be able to create this optimal body for me to be able to perform the best that I can and, you know, win these international medals. Can I ask a personal question? What weight did you start at and what weight would you say you are now? I was 98 kilos when I first started weightlifting. I'm 130 kilos now. You know, I used to be able to walk in a shop and buy clothes. I can't walk in a shop and buy clothes now. Like I have to order online, you know. I mean, I'm classed as this plus size, you know, category, you know. And then it's a whole new world of Gymkit. Then you start going into Gymkit and you realise Gymkit stops at size 16, size 16, or this one goes to 18, if you're lucky, or blah, blah.

13:11I'm thinking, well, I'm size 22, 24. Where's my Gymkit? Then it's like trying to find brands and then all of a sudden I'm having to wear men's horrible baggy T-shirts that don't fit me or whatever. And then I started to realise, well, if I'm going through this, then how many other women in the world are going through this that they can't, especially in the UK as well, that can't find sizes to fit them. And, you know, we talk about being healthy and we talk about going to the gym and, you know, making that step. How can you make the step to go into the gym when your outfit looks shit? You're going into a gym, you know, and I'm not going to obviously speak brands, but, you know, when they've got the little two pieces on that match and whatever, and these girls look great and you can't wear anything like that, you're not going to want to go, are you?

13:52Because you're not going to feel like you want to be part of that. I think when I've started to realise that and I realised that people was, actually gave a fuck about what I said, I was like, well, I'm going to try and use this for some good then and start talking about things that I think need to be spoke about. And, you know, there's been, you know, brands before that are like, oh, yeah, we really want to work with you. And then I'm like, what size do you go up to? And they're like, oh, whatever. But we can make you clothes if you want. And I'm like, that's not the point. I don't want to work with a brand who just want to make me clothes so I can promote you.

14:21How can I sit in a gym kit and promote it? And then the girl sees it and goes, oh, you know what? Because Emily's got that. I don't want to go and buy it. And then they can't go on your website and buy it. That's ridiculous. Emily, that's so great. Yeah. It is so great. Fitness is for everyone and everyone looks different. And we talk about how important that is. So let's be inclusive with everyone. Yeah. One hundred percent. Let's do it. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? And again, I won't call out an actual brand, but I did call out a brand. I did call out a certain brand on Instagram because they did the whole, we want to make every woman feel beautiful, blah, blah.

14:55So I said to them, but I cannot go on your website right now and buy an outfit to go to the gym in. So how can you make me feel beautiful? Who was it? Gymshark I said, you're chatting shit You're chatting shit Because I cannot go on your website right now And buy an outfit to make me feel beautiful So you're not You're just trying to jump on the body positivity bandwagon To make sure that you feel like you're including everybody Because you want to be greedy and get every single market You picked your market when you started You either stick to that Or you make drastic changes And you do the right things And then it was like, oh, come to the studios We want to make, you know We'll hear your ideas No no no I don't want no sponsorship I don't want you to help me I want you to do the right thing I want you to make bigger clothes For girls to be able to fit into That's all I want Or stop talking about Making everyone feel beautiful Because you're not making everyone feel beautiful You're making a certain population feel beautiful And that was it for me That was the reason why I did it Because I just thought It's just nonsense And then this is Again you see when I was younger When my mouth used to get me into trouble But like You know I just saw it And I just thought You're just chatting shit I don't want to Using your voice for completely the right thing.

15:59Yeah. Completely the right thing. You know, it's all right. It's all right saying certain things, but just putting your money where your mouth is, do you know what I mean? And it's not like they can't. It's not like they can't. You know, they're one of the biggest bloody brands on the planet. And you have to respect the man, you know, I forgot his name, the guy who obviously built the company. Ben Francis. Ben Francis, he built it from the ground. And obviously man's done an incredible job, do you know what I mean? But, you know, obviously someone really in that marketing team got that really wrong.

16:24You can't like be what you can't see. and you know like I was you know break that down for me because this is really important and that's so interesting they're like you know like like you said when you look on tv and you know you see you know say you see a football starting lineup or something or whatever and there's a little kid and looks and goes well nobody looks like me on that starting lineup so how can I be a top footballer or do you know what I mean like you just need that one person that looks like you resonates with you maybe has similar stories to you similar backgrounds to you that makes you go well if they can do it then I can do it do you know what I mean and it just that's all it is it's like something as simple as that you know and like you know I was quite lucky growing up that you know we had Jessica Ennis Hill you know and her background was like literally identical to mine like you know British born mum Jamaican born dad like you know the way that she grew up in Sheffield as well which is literally up the road I'm from Nottingham like and it was you know had a cis star there was lots of like similarities or whatever and you know and I actually was very lucky that when I went to Leeds, she used to actually do a javelin training at the side of us when we was at the cage.

17:27So I had the opportunity of meeting her a couple of times and, you know, you speak to her and she's one of the most incredible humans you will ever speak to in your whole life. Like, you know, she's so humble, so lovely, but like just had this absolute drive and determination to be the best heptathlete in the world. And, you know, obviously she achieved that, do you know what I mean, multiple times over. And now obviously is going on to even inspire mums and the rest of it. And the list goes on of what she does and, you know what I mean? And that was the first glimmer for me that I looked at someone and was like, oh, like she's like me.

17:57And I think, you know, that took me to what, you know, college, university time to see that. Where I think that we need to work harder so that these kids are seeing it when they're really little. Do you know what I mean? So that they've got that, you know, going through primary school and secondary school to be able to see that. Do you know what I mean? So, you know, and we've obviously had some, you know, incredible women, you know, that have done some amazing things. But I think now the representation is off the chart and we need to work harder to, you know, make it bigger.

18:24Okay, so what is the current Olympic world record? Right, so the world record for my category is held by the Chinese Li Wen Wen, and it's 147 kilo snatch and 187 kilo clean and jerk. Yeah, bonkers numbers. Okay, let's get real now. The Olympics are coming up. It's in Paris. Yes. you have won golds before you've won some medals you won the silver in the Tokyo Olympics correct yeah do you think you can get the gold medal? listen I think you have to believe that you can and the thing with weightlifting is you have to make attempts it doesn't matter how great in shape you are what you've done before you have to make it happen on the day and you know it comes down to that mental again you have to be really strong mentally to obviously, you know, sometimes you can miss weights that you should be able to do in your sleep just because the head's not there.

19:27So, you know, I know that by the time I get to the games, I will be mentally strong in a position where I've lifted over and over again and I'll be in shape to do whatever they need to put on the bar. And we always said that, you know, if it comes down to it and there's that last clean and jerk like Tokyo and we need a massive one, it goes on the bar and I give it a bash and we get underneath it. So, you know. Come on! Come on! So, yeah. And that's the good thing with me. I'm more confident on the cleaning joke than I am on the snatch. But I've been working really, really hard on my snatch, you know, since Tokyo to really make sure that I'm playing with the bigger girls so that then my deficit's not so as much with the...

20:08Because obviously, if people notice in Tokyo, I was fourth in the snatch. So people was a bit like, oh, oh, she's done well. She's come fourth. And then obviously I won the silver medal with the clean and jerks, you know, obviously the combined total being able to clean and jerk enough to put me into, so we've worked really, really hard on the snatch this year. We're really confident that I could be right up there on the snatch and then I'm a do or die clean and jerker. Like I will, you put anything on the bar and I'll give it a whack. So, you know, like we said, we've already prepared for some quite scary numbers and, you know, we're working really hard to be in a position.

20:41So if it has to go on, it has to go on. And the coaches know that, that, you know, if it has to go on, they'll put it on the bar and I'll go out there and give it a whack. So yeah, we're ready. We're ready. We're ready for whatever. Let's fucking go. Just describe what a clean snatch and jerk is. Yeah. So you do two lifts at the Olympics. Easiest way to describe snatch is the first lift. You always do the snatch first. And that's the wide grip that you take from the floor, put straight above your head and stand up. And then you're in a squat position. In a squat position. Yeah. And it's a wide grip above your head.

21:14and then the clean and jerk is you clean it onto the chest, stand up and then jerk it above the head. And that's the second lift. So you get three attempts at the snatch, three attempts at the clean and jerk, the best snatch, the best clean and jerk added together for a total. That's how you place. But then the one thing in weightlifting is the bar rises on the stage. Once it's rose up to a certain weight, it can't go back down again. So people enter the competition at different times depending on what their attempts are going to be. So somebody in the competition could have finished all of their attempts before you enter the competition.

21:46So that's where the tactics come in and that's where the coaches have to make sure that they warm you up on time and that things kind of go like that. Just explain that more to me. So, okay, so it's tactical. It's not just strength and ability and all that. There's a tactical aspect to the weightlifting as well. Yeah, so actually, really, on competition day, it's quite easy for us as athletes. Well, I know for me it is because of my team. My team pretty much do everything. So my team, it's my team's job to change the attempts on the board. So you have like a card, a sheet that essentially like when I go to weigh in, I'll say that I would like to open on 120 kilos and 150 kilos, but then that can be changed twice in the back room.

22:25So things change, things go pear-shaped and it's not quite good. The coaches can bring it down to whatever weight they want. Or if things are going well, we can put it up to a higher weight and you get two opportunities to be able to do that. But it has to be done before that bar on that stage reaches the weight that you would like to start at. Because then it can't go back down. Because it can't go back down. It has to stay at that. Yeah. So say the bar on the stage. So have people made mistakes where they haven't realised? Yeah. And then they've had to go out for something heavier than they wasn't prepared for or they've ended up missing an attempt.

22:52And so your coaching staff have to be like really on it. And then also people lie as well with the attempts that they're putting on the board that they might not actually open on that or they might move it up or move it down. So you can change it. You can manipulate. Yeah. So you get twice, two times to change it. So it could be changed twice. So coaches have to circulate the warm up room and watch the other competitors warm up to see because they can time it so they can go or they're going to have to do this many attempts. they might not open on that weight. They might open on something heavier or they might be going out earlier so then they can time.

23:23So literally you have to go up to a board and count how many lifts to go. So it is so, so competitive. Like the coaches have to be like, they have to have their Weet-Bix in the morning and strong coffee like to be on it because it's very intense. Okay, I have so many questions and forgive me if I'm being naive here. So just so I understand. So how many attempts do you get to lift? So you get three for the snatch and three for the clean and jerks. So three attempts. So if you don't make another third attempt, that's done. But if you do make it, you can move up weight and then you have another three attempts.

23:53No. No. Just three attempts. That's it total. Yeah, total. So like you say, you'll pick a weight. So this is why it's really important to make lifts, especially at like championships like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. It's really because you want to build that total. So say I would open, so if I say, for example. So what do you open with? So at the Commonwealth Games, I opened with 117 kilos snatch. So 117 kilos, buff. That's it. I'm feeling tired. Honestly, I'm feeling that pre-workout has emptied me. I'm not even in. I'm exhausted. It's run out a little bit. And then after that, my second attempt went to 122 kilos or 21.

24:32I can't remember. One of the two. So then because I hit that, then the coaches then put me to 124 kilos. So say, for example, 124 kilos, you're lifting your chest and your squat and then you're putting that above. No, that's the one that just goes straight above your head. Straight above your head. So that's just straight from the floor, straight above your head into a squat position and stand up. You are lifting 124 kilos above your head. Yeah. That is... The snatch is horrible lift as well, yeah. There's just no room for error in the snatch. Snatch has to be technically... It's the quick movement.

25:03Yeah. It just has to be technically bang on from the minute. You have to start it perfect. And then you have 10 minute break and then you start warming up for the clean and jerk. So literally you go in the back, you probably have a bit of fuel, something to drink, probably a toilet break, come back and then you start warming up for the clean and jerk and then you have three attempts at the clean and jerk. So at the Commonwealth Games... And that's when the two feet going, you do the two feet in front like that. That's it, yeah. So that's the one onto the chest and then the two movements essentially.

25:31So that's what we call the clean portion of it and then the jerk portion is the bit you put above your head. So, yeah. And again, like depending on what kind of athlete you are, Some people find the jerk very easy. Some people find the clean very easy. I'm very confident in the jerk. So I know if I stand up with it, it's going to go above my head. But some people are very confident with the clean bit and getting up. And then they're like, oh my God, I need to make sure I don't mess this bit up. So yeah, it just depends on what you're strong at. So yeah, there's a lot going on. Okay, hold on. I'm baffling you here, aren't I James?

26:01No, no, this is amazing. Throughout my time, I've identified things that work for me. And I've stuck to it. And I'm a big believer in don't change things if they're not broken. You know, if they work and you know they work, then stick to them. And it's like little things like I have a very strict pre-performance routine. So like from the minute, so like I will always listen to my music in the back room because I like to be, I'm a very like chilled out person, having a little party. I feel like I'm at carnival and the next minute they're asking me to lift a bar, but I'm very good at switching in, doing what I need to do and then going and relaxing because I don't like to overthink.

26:34And then periods of time - Because you lose energy, you raise your adrenaline. Well, this is it, yeah. And in periods of time in between lifts, there's nothing you can do. There's nothing you can do at that period of time, you know, in between them loading the bar and telling you to lift again, you know, because you have to do a certain amount of lifts to get ready for the one then you go out on the stage and do. And then once it's time to go out, I walk up, I keep the headphones on to the last minute. Then I walk out, have a scream, go up to the stairs, chop my hands. What does a scream do? So it just kind of lets everything out of everything I was, might just have been feeling that moment.

27:05Get rid of it. now we're trying to now it's time to lift something heavy so that's kind of really like waking my body up like come on it's time to go then it's chalk my hands go to the back of the platform and I do this like little routine where I kind of click my heels and then walk onto the platform have a nice deep breath and then my hands are on the bar and I go and I do that exactly and that actually saved me at the Olympics because it was a really big mess up with the change and I'd just done a lift in the back and then my clock was running for me to go out on stage and do it and what does that mean sorry you could you do practice in the back yeah so essentially say my so if my opening lift at the olympics was 150 kilos on the cleaning jerk so i have to warm up to 150 kilos hang on hang on

27:52150 yeah that is like double me yeah it's pretty heavy i can't lie yeah but yeah when you went peak training yeah right how how many how many calories we have to consume a day? I'm on about 4 ,000 to 4 ,400. Really? Yeah. And is it like completely regimented? Pretty much, yeah. So I get like a plan and it's like, you know, breakfast, then depending on if I'm training. So if I'm a double session at pre-workout, post-workout, then lunch, pre-workout, post-workout, dinner, and then pre - bedtime snack as well. Sounds delicious. Yeah. I mean, it's lots, it's lots. There's lots going on. There's lots and lots of food going on.

28:32I don't know if you're allowed to talk numbers. I don't know if that's a tactical thing that you don't want to do, but what kind of numbers are we looking at if you were like, I can give that a go? Yeah, I mean, like we said, we don't really set numbers, but we have Stu in our team who is our performance manager, but he also does my strength and conditioning in my team. And he's a data guy. So he shops together a lot of data from past Olympics of whatever and blah, blah. And we're looking at, we're thinking around a medal is going to be around that 295 kilo mark to 300 mark, be able to get a medal.

29:10So that's combined, right? Combined, yeah. So, you know, a 300 split, you're looking at a 130, 170 clean and jerk, which we believe I'm more than capable of to be able to achieve or whatever. but then we obviously know if it starts to go into you know depending on what it's looking like and depending on what kind of shape the Chinese is in if it means that we need to go a little bit over that as well we're preparing to to maybe do a little bit more if needed be so yeah it's a hard one really with numbers because you can't really predict until you know what's in front of you on the day you know because you might need less you might need more you only put on the bar what you need for for the medals right you know there's no point going I'm capable of 300 kilos but a medal's going for 296 you do 296 and you get that medal you wouldn't try there's no point there's no point what is it you do in your second attempt you've got if you do it in your second attempt and then you want to go for a big one on the third then absolutely but in championships it's about securing medals love that so it's about you know doing sensible because sometimes capacities do do they go for something big end up missing it and then you're back down at the first attempt that you started at which doesn't do anything for you so it's about building that total and I know for the coaches it'll be like you know that first cleaning jerk they'll be looking at that weight what does bronze secure if we can do that in the first attempt then what does silver secure and then there's an opportunity for gold the third attempt it goes on the bar and we do that but you know it's about securing the bling first and then we do the showing off after just let's put into context quickly like like 300 kilograms what like do we know what weight like what is how heavy is that What does it look like?

30:49How many, like, is that like a lorry? Like, what is that? It's nearly half a ton. Yeah, we know when a baby, I think when a baby elephant's born, it's around 120 kilos. So it's about two and a half of them or something like that, I think. So, yeah. It's two and a half. Imagine being 120 kilos when you pop out. Like, that's wild, isn't it? I think poor mum, that's what I think. Yeah, exactly. But they're about 300 kilos themselves, aren't they? The big ones, like the big elephants. It's like, it's like, it's like an elephant. That's what it is. It's a lot. Up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up. The market's uncertain.

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33:03There's this amazing glory when you get the medals and things like that. It's incredible. The journey to that is a tough one. what most people don't realize is the amount of funding that needs to go in to become a professional athlete especially in the olympics and i heard that your funding was taken away there was no funding in the weightlifting category for women was that right yeah correct so what happened was there was um you have like what they call funded programs in the uk so if a sport does you know a certain amount they'll set like a world-class program or if certain athletes qualify for that then you get like what they call like a athlete appraisal fund or something like that a personal fund or whatever and they got rid of the men's after 2012 and then the women's went at 2016 and I just started the sport in 2016 so kind of as I was coming in the funding was on the way out but then that also means they removed like the funding from the sport to be able to send people to international competitions to be able to help them with medical insurance physio support So all the stuff that kind of, the glue that holds you together while you're training, the money's no longer available there.

34:12So yeah, in the lead up to Tokyo, it was, I was working. So I worked in a SCN school with kids with behavioral difficulties, which I absolutely loved. I loved my job. I loved them. I love the kids. And it's really nice now because a couple of them always messaged me and they was like, Miss, you told us you was going to go see Olympics and you did it and you did it. And I'm like, yeah, I told you, but I wasn't lying. like obviously that got pretty intense training while I was doing that and then in the lead up to Commonwealth Games in 2018 I asked if I could go part time so didn't want to leave the kids I felt like I'd still had more things I wanted to do with them and I still had things I wanted to do but I couldn't cope with doing 36 hours and training 15, 17 hours on top of that as well it was getting too much Just break that down you're doing a 36 hour week in the school helping these vulnerable kids making a mark on these children's lives, 36 hours?

35:04Basically doing like half eight till half five, six o 'clock each day. And then I would go to the gym after that. And how long are you training afterwards? Two and a half hours after, probably in the gym. Because I didn't have the luxuries then of obviously, you know, now I'm in a position where because it's my job, I can split sessions. I do double sessions. I'll train in the morning, you know, eat, go sleep and then go back to the gym and train again in the afternoon. But, you know, when I was working full time, I didn't have the pleasure of that. So I had to do all of what I needed to do. And you were paying for all of that?

35:32Yeah, I was paying for it all. You know, I was, again, you know, it goes back to good old mum and dad, bless them. But I lived at home and, you know, they helped me and cooked me. But, you know, I had to pay for my fuel supplements, gym kit, the whole lot. Do you know what I mean? You got to fund it all. And then when it was time. And also had the mentality to push yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, 100%. And, you know, sometimes it wasn't physically being tired. Like when you've been at a place where you're telling a kid to constantly stop swearing, put that down, don't hit that person, don't do this 100 times.

35:59and then you mentally got to throw yourself under heavy weights, it was getting to a point where I was like, whoa, this is crazy, you know what I mean? I absolutely loved that job. But then, you know, when they said, okay, it's time, you know, we think you could qualify for the Olympics. We really want you to give it a good shot. And I was like, well, y 'all don't give me no money to do this. So what do you want from me? Like, do you know what I mean? Is it expensive to try and get into Team GB into the Olympics? I mean, I think it depends on what sport you're doing or what goes on or whatever.

36:28It's just, you know, being able to, you know, dedicate the time that you need. Weightlifting takes quite a lot of time, like in terms of being able to get all your exercises done in the gym to warm up, etc. Supplements are expensive. Yeah. And yes, supplements are expensive. And it's also as well the time you need off to go to international competitions, to go on training camps. If you're working a normal job, you only have so much annual leave that you can obviously take from a job. So the only way you can get into the Olympics or travel is you have to go and do these competitions abroad. Every sport qualifies differently, but the way that we qualified was a world system.

37:00And you had to do six competitions across the world. And it was like, we think it's going to be a ballpark pick of about 10 grand. And I was sat there going, I know I can't go home to my parents and say, have you got 10 grand to walk me out? You know what I mean? That's just not a reality. How am I going to do it? But then at the same time I was like, well, if you don't try, then do you know what I mean? And that was it. We went home and my dad was writing letters to companies, you know local companies blah blah blah asking for bits and bobs had loads of people you know help me along the way you know one I do uh want to shout is Mick Robinson and he'll hate me for doing this but you know I was he was actually our team manager from athletics and he always says oh you made it in the wrong sport but I'll let you off um but yeah we did that you had to raise 10 ,000 so the first qualification comp was the world championships in Turkmenistan so yeah imagine as well like how people don't even know how much it takes to get to Turkmenistan because it's not a that you just visit.

37:52Don't even know where that is. Right, exactly. So, you know, it's in Asia. It's on the border in Asia. So we went there for our first qualification. So I think that was about two and a half thousand pound. And then there was another competition I paid for. And then luckily there was an aspiration fund that was released. So that kind of reset us back. So the aspiration fund was to pay for us to go to those, the rest of the qualification competition. So then I just had to fund again, physio, massage, et cetera, all that kind of stuff and whatever. and yeah I was really lucky really I just kind of went out there and did it myself I built my own team like I just started working with people I was like right you you work like this works for me can we sort some kind of deal like can we you know can we make this work you know I'm going to try and qualify for the Olympics blah blah got a good physio support on got a good massage person started working with just started getting this consistent team around me got a nutritionist and whatever and they're just all people that I found myself I found myself we got a good bond we worked.

38:48And you know what I mean? We just, we just made it work and everyone just kind of really helped me out. My local community helped me out. And this is, you know, this is where I am proud to be from places like, like I was because, you know, I went back and where I'm from is a place called Bulwell and they have like a market stall and the market stall raised money for me. There was a woman on there that used to give me free fruit and veg. She also used to give me a bag of jacket potatoes and make sure, make sure your dad don't have none there for you. And the, you know, the cobblers, he used to fix my boots when they were broken and things like that.

39:16Do you You know what I mean? And, you know, if it weren't for them coming together as a community to support me, then again, I don't think I would have made it to Tokyo. And I wouldn't have been in the position that I had. When you have so many people who are helping you and backing you, is that more of a weight or responsibility? Yeah, absolutely. Because you want to show these people that, you know, you appreciate what they're doing. And sometimes it's hard to, I think, show people that you appreciate without having results. Do you know what I mean? Like if you've got results and you do well, then people go, oh, it was worth investing in, oh, do you know what I mean?

39:47You know, she's done a good job. You know, then obviously you have these unfortunate times where, you know, I'll tell you now, there's no athlete on this planet that doesn't train to try and be their best. But sometimes you don't get rewarded for all that hard work. You know, I'm quite lucky. I've got, you know, all these medals and all these achievements and all these amazing things that I've done to prove how hard I've worked for it. But it doesn't mean that I worked any harder than the person that doesn't have the trophy cabinet or the medal cabinet to show for it. Do you know what I mean? So, but I feel, you feel that sense of responsibility you feel like you need those things to prove to them people.

40:17I do really appreciate what you've done for me. But I mean, they know I try and give back and, you know, I've done bits and bobs and I've done like lifting workshops for kids on the market and stuff like that and whatever. And I try and go back and do bits and bobs just to be like, you know what, guys, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be in the position that I am. And, you know, after Tokyo, they wanted to still kind of raise money for me and stuff. And I said, guys, listen, I get funding and stuff now I get help. Like, you know, I don't really want to take your money off you now. Like you gave it to me when I really needed it I'm not just going to take it for the sake of it like I get help now like I'm good like you you lot got me there you can pass me on now thank you do you know what I mean I didn't want to feel like I was still taking but but then it made the experience so much sweeter man like when I stood on that podium and and it was it's quite awkward actually because I was doing all the media after him and they they had to keep telling the the reporters she didn't get UK sport funding so don't ask her to say thank you to the national lottery and it was like yeah like I think they named me in the times or something as the cheapest medal of the games or something like in terms of the funding that our sport got.

41:13Like, do you know what I mean? But the bottom line is when you speak to most athletes, we do it because we want to do it. It's not about the fanfare that comes with it. It's not about the money that comes with it. Like we are proud to represent our country and we love doing what we do and we want to get out there and we want to do it. And I would not have changed my journey if you'd have asked me. If you'd have asked me, do you know what I mean? And I'm not trying to say that you can do it all without funding because, you know, I went on in 2022 to have the best year of my career after the Olympics, you know, didn't think it would get any better and I had a phenomenal year in 2022 and that was down to UK sport funding because I got time to actually just concentrate on being an athlete I got to you know just enjoy not having to work just enjoy training and stuff so it does help and and it is you know we do thank the Notchallottery and everyone that plays it you know obviously to help us out but at the same time I think again just prove to everyone that if you want something bad enough you just make it work.

42:04When you when when you get that gold yes and you're on that podium in Paris, do you think you'll get emotional then? Yeah, I think so. I definitely think so, yeah. Yeah, because, you know, this build-up's been a tough build-up as well. Like, it's not been, you know, in, yeah, I had all those challenges with the funding and stuff and whatever, but in terms of, like, in my training leading up to Tokyo, I had one surgery, but apart from that, everything was pretty plain sailing, like training was good. Whereas last year, I had probably one of the toughest years of my career and I was injured for pretty much the whole of 2023.

42:39And it's really rough when you have to sit and watch from the sidelines. How is that when that happens? Yeah, it's hard, man. It's hard because you feel like you're being left behind because the world's carrying on. And when I had my surgery in 2020 is when it was all in lockdown. Everyone was in lockdown. The world was, you know, in a ray. The world was stopped when I was recovering, whereas this time the world carries on while I was trying to recover. And it's really tough. And then you start to doubt yourself. Am I going to get back to the person that I used to be, the athlete that I used to be?

43:07am I going to be able to do it is this my body just telling me this is it now like this is done do you know what I mean but what was the injury like so I had um unexplained back pain for a very long time but it was like flare-ups that would completely stop me from training it turned out I had a bulge disc and arthritis in my back um and then just as I kind of got over that um I have something called osteopubis which is something that's not really known it's actually quite common in footballers um but it's basically information of the pubic area um and when it gets too much it has to spread somewhere so this is spreading to my doctors and this actually happened three days before I was competing at the European Championships this year and I was going out to retain my title for the fourth year so I was going to defend it again and it happened literally three days out I was in really good shape everything was going well and then all of a sudden every time I got into squat position I just had this pain how bad is Yeah, it was pretty bad.

43:59It was pretty bad. Like I competed on the day. I probably shouldn't have bought like, you know, I had to kind of numb it up a little bit and just kind of crack on and just kind of get in the mode and try and forget about it. And, you know, it's and you think it's just problem after problem after problem. And you just start thinking, you know, last year, 2023, I had to go to the World Championships and weigh in because, again, trained really well week before I was meant to fly out, back flared up again, was in agony, couldn't get out of bed, couldn't walk properly. like actually I asked for assistance at the airport but I had to get to that competition because it was a mandatory competition to weigh in for Paris to make sure that you still eligible.

44:32So I had to go to Saudi Arabia, literally waiting my way there. And then that world championships ended up being the world championships where the Chinese got hurt and the total that won the world championships was my best total that I've done. So that was difficult to watch because it's then you sat there thinking if I was in shape, I could have been world champion today. You know, something that, you know, And so you do get these times where it is really, really tough. Can I ask, I've spoken to some athletes before, and I think the one thing that seems to jump out a lot of the time is mental health.

45:07And a lot of people don't talk about that. There's a lot of depression in sport, a lot of anxiety for complete obvious reasons. Absolutely. The uncertainty, the injuries, the funding, whatever it is. Have you ever had issues? not issues but have you ever slipped in that place with anxiety or anything like that? I definitely feel like last year I struggled a little bit in terms of like I'm a very positive person most of the time and I think I struggled like feeling very low last year because you start to think oh what's my purpose now then if I can't do the one thing that I'm meant to do what can I do and I think yeah I think last year I did struggle a little bit and I kind of just started I'm really like okay I've rehabbed I've had three surgeries I've rehabbed back from all of them I've been strong I've come out of it and then this but this one felt different this one felt like there was no way out of it every time I did everything I can and I'm going to the gym and I'm doing endless things that are boring and I'm not allowed to touch a bar because you know I need to wait for my back to heal and you get to a point where you're just like you don't want to be there anymore you know the one place that you enjoyed going to and the one place that you love going to you don't want to be there anymore.

46:16Then you end up spending more time in your house. I live alone as well. Spend more time alone. You're learning your thoughts, do you know what I mean? So there was times where I did find it really, really tough. And then I think this is where I really learned that lesson about, you know, actually just talking. Because I sometimes feel guilty for talking about things that I go through because I feel like I have a very nice life. So sometimes I think, well, I'm moaning about really trivial things when actually there's real shit going on in the world and there's real people that have real problems day to day.

46:44and now I'm moaning because I can't lift a bar and sometimes I try and put that inspected and then someone said to me but it's still important for you to have your feelings validated and I think that's when I started tapping into the whole psych thing and tapping into the therapy side of things and talking to people and actually realising I don't need to feel guilty for feeling this way it's normal to feel this way Talk to me about I'm so interested in your whole story. Talk to you about your journey to becoming a professional athlete. Yeah, it was a bit of a delayed one really. So yeah, as a kid, I was always into sport, like just love sport, but I also had another love.

47:28I was always into performing arts as well. So I loved dancing, singing, acting, doing shows. I went to a school with performing arts status. So I was always in their school shows, did the dance academies, did everything like, you know, singing lessons, a whole lot. So I was always torn between the two. I was always really good at sport, but then the performing, then when it came to like picking your options, it was one or the other. You couldn't have sport and performing. And I actually went down the performing route. And then, yeah, I just really - Why couldn't you do both? Because like, you know, like when they give you that stupid pyramid thing and it's like, you can pick one from this and one from this and one from that.

47:59And performing and sports in our school was on the opposite sides. It was either you pick one or the other. Really? Yeah. So I actually had to pick one and I actually went with performing as a GCSE instead of doing PE, which is obviously a shock to everyone. And then I went to college and did sport, which is like another switch. So I was always torn between the two. But yeah, essentially I went to university and I was into athletics and athletics was my first love. So I was a thrower, got into that through school. And honestly, I'm real honest, I went to an old girls school. So I just wanted to go to the athletics competition on the afternoon to see boys because it's the only time that we got out to see boys.

48:35So it was like, yeah, get out for the afternoon. You know, we actually get to see girls for all day. We had to get to see some boys to go part of talent. And then, yeah, ended up being really good at athletics and then kind of stuck with that. Joined Not Say See, which is my local club at the time. Yeah, and just really enjoyed it down there. Like started doing competitions for them. Then when I went to university, I went to Leeds Beckett. It was met when I started. I was at Leeds Uni. Was you? Leeds is a city, isn't it? I mean, that's a conversation for a different day. No, we can have that as well.

49:03Oh my, what? But Leeds was just obviously immense, wasn't it? Great for sport. Great. And, you know, where I went, I was in Head in Lee. And they had the athletics track on site and everything. And that's what like, you know, really attracted me to go. And yeah, just started pushing the athletics to a new level. I was just one of them people. I always had to push the boundaries. I always wanted to be really good. Always wanted to be the best. And someone said, if you do these weightlifting movements, they help you get stronger to throw the shot. So I was like, oh, why not? What's the worst that can happen?

49:27So literally started picking up weightlifting and having a go. And I just like, one day I'll go in and it'd be going really well. And then the next day I look like I'd never done it in my life. And it used to piss me off. I just want to go in every single day and be like, I'm going to master this. I'm going to be better at this. I'm going to be better at this. And then before I knew it, I was just like in the hole of weightlifting. And one of the coaches was like, you should do a comp. Like just do it. If you hate it, you never have to do it again, but just try it. I think you're going to be really good.

49:52And did my first weightlifting comp and qualified for a national competition. And then, yeah, before I knew it, I was just in the black hole. And then that's it. I was like weightlifting and just loved it. Absolutely loved it. 18 months later, qualified for a Commonwealth Games. And still at this point, if I'm honest, I was still just kind of... at this point? I started when I was 21. So I went to my first Commonwealth Games at 23 just. Just so my naivety, right, I can ask so many questions. Is that, in terms of professional athlete, is that quite a late start? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Normally with most sports, people do them from quite a young age and then transition through.

50:27So they'll do like the junior period, which is probably from around like, you know, 16 to, you know, like 19, 20, and then, you know, going to the senior ranks or whatever. So I was already like, I think I was top end of the like under 23 category going into seniors when I started sport. Yeah. And it was just like a really bizarre, because I remember when they kept saying to me, oh, you're going to be really good at it. And I was like, who starts a sport at this age and manages to get to a good level? It's just not really that heard of, but you know, I managed to be able to do it. So yeah, it was just more of a, and I was just, I was just having a jolly, honestly, at first, I was just like, I've got a free holiday to Australia.

51:04This is wicked. So I went out to Oz for a month. I had the best time. And then I ended up winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games. I won bronze. And I was like, oh, maybe I am good at this. Maybe I should start taking it seriously. Hang on a second. Hang on a second. Hang on a second. What's interesting is you have this incredible drive, right? Like that desire to win and achieve, whether it's in musicals or theatre performance or in athletics or weightlifting, whatever it is. that drive is pretty unique where does that drive come from yeah i think you know what i have to i have to give it down to my parents a lot to be fair like you know we grew up in quite a deprived area in nottingham you know literally you know we laugh we call it the hood you know i mean it is it ends like you know it's normal to me it's this life you know and we have a great community around there or whatever but it's not somewhere that you probably go and visit but you know but my parents were always just so driven on you know giving us opportunities and showing us that there was more out there in the world and that, you know, even though we lived in this place that, you know, people didn't really want to achieve or go out of there that we needed to go out and branch out.

52:07You know, my sister, she was an elite athlete as well. She swam for Jamaica. So we both went to Commonwealth Games together in 2022. So obviously my parents to watch both of us, one compete for England and one compete for Jamaica, representation of the both of us at the Games was obviously really special for them. So, you know, now she's in LA studying a PhD in public health, you know, like we're both massive overachievers. But I think that is down to my parents just keep saying to us, you know, there's more out in that world, go and get it, you know, don't sit here and, you know, wait for somebody to come and bring it to you.

52:34I always remember my dad saying, you know, my dad came from Jamaica when he was probably about eight years old or whatever and had to, you know, work his way up and, you know, do whatever. And he's just provided for us in the best way possible. And he said to me, nobody's going to give you anything on a plate. You have to go out there and get it if you really want it. And I think that's something I've always held with me dearly that, yeah, I can't sit there and make excuses. If I want it, I need to go and make it happen and that's that's down to me so yeah can I can I ask a sort of personal question you know growing up in a sort of deprived area as you sort of said it's you know you described it's like the hood right yeah well you know I get always asked this question right I grew up in a pretty privileged background right and but I didn't realize that I was privileged until much older because I was a kid I had no idea um when did you realize that you were probably less privileged than other people I think it's when I went to uni, when I went to university.

53:29And then, you know, you start talking to, you know, other people and, you know, you talk about things that happen back home that you think are pretty normal. And everyone else is looking at you like, that's not normal. Do you know what I mean? Like what things are happening? Just think like I was so used to seeing like lots of drugs in the ends and like, you know, like lots of violence and, you know, things like that. And obviously, you know, it's wrong, but then you just think you just assume that it happens everywhere. Do you know what I mean? Like you just think it's like a thing. And, you know, a lot of the boys that you grow up with, you see them come in and out of prison quite a lot.

53:57And prison is quite a normal conversation to have, like where we're from. Do you know what I mean? Whereas, you know, when you talk to other people and you're like, well, no, I don't know anybody who's gone to prison. Whereas I could probably count five people I know that's gone to prison. Do you know what I mean? And then I have conversations with certain people that I met from like certain places in London. I had a lot of friends from like Peckham and Brixton and them playing the places. and then they had similar stories to me and then I started to realise the pattern of like, oh, I'm kind of from them places in Nottingham of where you would match up to those places in London that, you know, would say were more deprived or, you know, more crime ridden or whatever.

54:29So, but it's like, you know, and in my head as well, like, yes, some people have done some bad things, but I didn't necessarily see them as bad people because I saw the situations that some people were in. Break that down for me because this is super interesting. Yeah, it's a hard one really because it's like, you know, you see people do bad things and you think, oh, you know, that's wrong and they shouldn't do that. And, you know, destroying people's like communities and stuff and whatever. But then you see the opportunities that we get in like our area. There's not really opportunities, not role models for people to look up to.

55:02There's not like that drive and determination. Like I generally think that all of my drive and determination and will to get out was my parents and then seeing that and thinking I don't want to be a part of that. And if you don't, I think if you don't have that mindset to think I don't want to be a part of that then your mindset is that is my only way yeah and I think a lot of the time a lot of the boys in the ends and stuff and whatever like when I went to uni they kept saying to me oh you got out the jungle you did it you did it and in my head I'm going what do they mean I got out the jungle like I just I just did my GCSEs I just did my you know a levels and that and I got placed at uni like in my head it was very simple but to them it didn't seem such a simple path and I think that's when I started to sympathize that like they didn't have the same upbringing and they didn't have the same views and they didn't have the same like paths given that what maybe I had, even though living in the same area.

55:53So I think it teaches you to like kind of appreciate people's situations a little bit. Yeah. And like, you know, now obviously I go back now and, you know, I drive, my parents still live in the same place they've lived the whole time. Do you know what I mean? When I go back to the ends and I see everyone and they were like, oh, we saw you, we saw you on TV and blah, blah, and whatever and that they're so proud and stuff and whatever but it's kind of mad because I drive back and they're still in the same place doing the same things and it's like I'm like complete worlds away now but like literally we grew up on the same estate but they're still in the same position and it's sad really it's sad to see.

56:28Why do you think it's sad to see just so I understand like I think sometimes people think you have to be a product of your environment yeah and you don't have to be a product of your environment and it's okay to you know even like live in the same places. You know, my parents have done very well for themselves. They've both got, you know, humble jobs. My dad's a painter. Dad's retired now. Very bored, but he was a painter and decorator, you know. But it's good because I just bought a house, so I'm keeping it busy there at the moment. But, you know, he's a retired painter and decorator. My mum's always worked in some form of management or something or whatever.

56:58And, you know, she works at a housing association now in management. And, you know, they've always had, you know, solid jobs. They've always been humble. Never done anything like, you know, wild or anything, but they've always had a very stable household. always worked really hard. We were on family holidays. You know, we got to see the world very young. We got to see what was out there and we got to, you know, experience different cultures and countries and that kind of stuff and whatever. And I think, you know, when you see people back there, when you see that they didn't get to see that, like you think, oh, you know, there's so much beautiful stuff out there and you've not been exposed to it.

57:29And like, imagine what you could, how your mindset could be if you was exposed to those things. And that's why I always come back to my parents and I always thank them because, you know, they didn't have loads of stuff but they made sure that the stuff that they did have that we was exposed to and everything was for us as kids so tell me more about your parents because the way you talk about them is amazing yeah honestly yeah I love them and yeah my parents they're just they're just incredible people they're just no matter what direction I've ever wanted to go in no matter what like things I've wanted to do they've just always had my back 100 % but they've always kept me like two feet on the ground because again I weren't the best behaved kid my mum was super strict in that like my mum was very much you go to school you get your GCSEs you do your books you're going to college you're doing this you have a plan she never stopped me from doing everything on the outside but then the things that I loved she would stop me from doing if them things weren't getting right at school like I remember once I had this new teacher that swapped into science and like half my coursework was missing and I'd not been bothering doing it or whatever.

58:33And she was an African lady. And I remember her ringing my mum. She said, Emily's got loads of potential, which just messes about all the time. This, this, this, this coursework's outstanding. She's going to fail if she don't do this, this and this. I went home to the textbooks on the table with the laptop already open with Word and all the list of the things that I was missing. And I was like, mum, I'm going such and such. She said, you ain't going nowhere. She said, you better take your uniform off now. You better put your clothes on and you better sit down there and you are not moving until that list is ticked off and I just looked at her and I went right and she went hurry up then and literally I stayed in that whole night I remember it was MSN back then you had to MSN everyone I'm in the dungeon I can't come out that's it I'm not coming out tonight and that was it and I sat there mate I think for the week and I had to finish that coursework until I was allowed to go back out that was no athletics for me, no whatever football I had that week, no going out, no going out my friends on the weekend.

59:31It was finished that coursework. So, you know, my mum was very like strict in that way that, you know, when I did let myself slip, it was straight back in again. If I come in late off night, if I've been partying or whatever, and I said I'd be back at a certain time and I was back late, my dad would be sat there, cool as calm. And we always laugh because my dad watches the TV, but he has his reggae music on at the same time. And when he watches the TV and he has it on. Yeah. So he has the TV on. so many sentences. Yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot going on. Yeah, it's really weird. We were talking about it as well.

59:59Someone was like, that's not normal. I was like, my dad has done that his whole life. So we'll watch maybe the football or something on the TV and then he's got his reggae music on Super Lad or whatever. And you come in and the only way in was to come past dad to get back in the house again. So you could try and sneak in if you're not and he would just wait there nice and cool and comfortable and he's like, where you been? And you could not lie to him. It's like, um, um, and he's like, we're not even talking about it tonight. go upstairs, go to sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow. And then your punishment was laid out for you ready in the morning.

1:00:27Like he was not playing. Oh, I was that kid that like, you know, sometimes when your mum goes, you're grounded. And then you go in and you go, mum, I'm going to go out with such and such and whatever. No, no, I was grounded. I used to watch people play from the window on the street. I was grounded for the week. Like that was it. I was not going out. I was done. Would you say they're the only ones you're scared of? Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Even now. Yeah. Even now, do you know what I mean? they come around and my mum gives me like stern words I'm like okay yeah I should probably listen what is the message that you get when you know your parents are pissed off what is the is there an opening it's when you get full name didn't it when you get full names like Emily Jade Campbell I'm like damn I've messed up like when the full name comes out you know you're done something rotten like you better start thinking of some excuses you start racking your brain it do you start thinking do they know that what have I done this time do you know what I mean yeah Honestly, you know, when I laugh about it, like I always say to people, I think I thought my mum was trying to ruin my life when I was younger.

1:01:27I could have become a real product of my environment, but they didn't because they just kept me on that straight and narrow. And it must have been exhausting for them. But now I could not say thank you enough to them for what they've done. When you get that gold and I honestly, I mean, I can't. I was excited anyway, but having this conversation with you, I'm just I feel like I'm honestly part of the team. and I'm not even there or I've done anything towards it, but I can't. I honestly are going to be so psyched watching you. It's going to be insane. When you win. Yeah. What celebration are we doing?

1:02:01Oh. Is there something? We've got to have some kind of dance move or something, can't we? Or whatever. You see, we always do this. We always say, oh, I'm going to do this. I'm going to twerk. I'm going to do this. And then you get so emotional, you forget. And then you come off stage, you're like, oh, I was meant to do that dance move. So my crazy family will be there anyway. So they'll probably start something. because I'll probably start something, some riot or something. So, yeah. Okay, you ready for eight questions? Let's do it. What's a saying or phrase that always makes you smile or cheers you up?

1:02:28You can only be yourself. So just embrace what you have. Love that. Best compliment anyone's ever given you? This is quite funny. Actually, I went to, I had to compete in the Bundesliga in Germany. So, you know, they have football. They have the same for weightlifting. They compete in a little village called Oberheim and they have mad, crazy fans and they follow us all around Germany. And one of the guys came up to me and said, Campbell, he said, you are too tall to be a weightlifter, but you're very good at it. And I was like, I'll take that. I love that. What scares you most about yourself? My nonchalant attitude about something.

1:03:06So I'm very like, oh, it'll be okay. I'll be all right. Blah, blah. Don't worry. We'll work it out. It'll be fine. And sometimes I need to just be a bit like, no, actually, sometimes it's not all right. and it's okay. Let's, you know, work it out. I think my need, my want to be positive all the time sometimes I think scares me. I think I need to be a little bit level-headed sometimes. And maybe a bit more vulnerable, right? Where you allow yourself to just be like, it's not okay. Yeah. When was the last time you cried and why? Last time I cried was at the World Championships in 2023 when I saw my best total go up to become world champion because obviously I've ticked off quite a lot on, I've got world championship medals and stuff but obviously it would be amazing to be Olympic champion world champion and I felt like I'd missed my opportunity at that point but I was injured hopeless nothing I could do so sometimes it's just a little bit frustrating and I had a little cry but we always wipe our tears and get back up again Be vulnerable Absolutely That's it I'm trying Jamie I'm trying What's something you can't let go of?

1:04:14I'm going to say use it What do you want? I'm going to say music, yeah. Because it's just a massive part of my life everywhere. Like, that's the first thing I switch on in the morning. It's the last thing I have when I go to bed at night. It's, you know, what makes me happy. Like, you know, I love to have a sing. And yeah, I just think music, I just couldn't imagine a life without it. This is always a tricky one, but what is something you'd be embarrassed for people to know you like or want? I was a very big Love Island fan at one point. Did you ever watch Made in Chelsea? I have watched Made in Chelsea A couple of times To be fair There you go I will give you that Yeah But more like When you was in it Back in the day Like not the recent ones I think I'm embarrassed About that What turns you off Men that wear gloves In the gym

1:05:06It's just not a vibe Or you know When you go on their Like You know you go on Their Hinge profile And they've got like Videos of them lifting just get rid of it hon it's not that deep what turns you on? good smelling a nice beard what do you like most about yourself? I think that I seem to have quite a positive effect on people that I meet so I feel like people receive me quite well I feel like people enjoy my company I can 100 % echo and agree with that without a doubt last one what's your favourite swear word? I'm simple like fuck person yeah just fuck fucking just gives you more emphasis on stuff doesn't it do you know what I mean like you don't need to shout it loud or say it different but if you just put a fucking on it it just hits home a bit better I think my favourite quote maybe of these whole interviews is would you ever ask Roger Federer what he was wearing who would give a fuck Emily thank you so much Oh, it's been a blast, man.

1:06:13Go and win that gold. I can't wait. Thank you so much for coming. That's it. And we'll see you in Paris. Can't wait.

1:06:21Yeah, that was amazing. I didn't know that I would be so fascinated by weightlifting. Unbelievable. I'm so excited to watch it. Yeah, and just excited to cheer her on and just root her on and just everything like that. I just cannot wait. The tactics of it. Yeah, of course. I love that. And I like the fact she's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. if we gotta go we gotta go for it yeah that energy come on so excited interview was okay you liked it it was very good well done thank you very much hey listen to you lovely listener if you enjoyed this episode please do share it with your friends and if you haven't followed or subscribed to the show it makes the biggest difference I cannot explain to you so please please just click that button because it does the world of good for us and also we're on social media at great company podcast YouTube, TikTok, Instagram.

1:07:12And of course, we're going to be back next week for another episode of Great Company. Yes! We did it. See you then.

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1:08:07Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Hello everyone, we're Jamie and Sophie. You may remember us from Nearlyweds and then Newlyweds. But now guys, things are about to get even wilder as we take on our biggest adventure yet, becoming parents. Yeah, that's right. Newlyweds is now Nearly Parents and we're bringing you the same honest, heartwarming takes on our journey to parenthood, I guess. Join us as we find out what it really means to become a family while trying not to kill each other. Get ready for Nearly Parents, your favourite new podcast.