“I compete in the sport of Olympic weightlifting in the u15 age and u71 kg weight category. I train 6 times a week at Basecamp Gym in Ellesmere. Danni and James Evans have helped me so much and helped me discover my love for this sport.” Explains Emily, “I first met Danni in around year 4/5 in Primary School, where she ran a kids Bootcamp class. I found a love for Crossfit and over time began competing. I won British Teen Championships in 2018 and made podium in Battle of Britain, Superhuman games, Castle Games and many more competitions.”

“After British Teens, James pushed me to sign up to my first weightlifting competition in Oxford. I remember intensely hating every single second, saying I was never doing that again!”

“After that, I was told that I broke all the British Records! I got invited to an English Championship competition and decided to give it another shot. It was in the middle of February in Luton. During the time between these competitions, I had also made the regional squad, made the England squad and took up the opportunity to train near London for a weekend and a few other single days, fully funded by British Weightlifting.”

“At my second competition, I won Gold, broke my own records again and was also invited to the European Youth Trials in Coventry. I was over the moon to get this invitation and began training hard for the Commonwealth Total because after this I wanted to go on and qualify fully-funded for Euros.”

"In August this year, I found out that I been selected for a European Youth Training Camp in Latvia on the 24th-29th of August. I loved every single second of Latvia with the other 3 GBR athletes. We got given the GBR training tops and I became really good friends with them. It was very motivational and an incredible once in a lifetime experience.”

“When I got back, I then began a program of training devised by the Great British Youth Coach and helped by my coach. He would send me exactly what I had to do in training each day with reps and weights and I would video it and send it to him for him to analyse it.”

“Shortly after I was told that I had qualified for the European Championships in Israel from December 4th till 16th. I could not believe it but was not allowed to tell anyone until BWL (British Weightlifting) made the official announcement. I found out that Taliyah, Drew and Jacob (all athletes I went to Latvia with) were all going too.”

“I was asked to sign up for the British Championships in Birmingham on October 5th and whilst all this was happening Danni and I had qualified for Rep It Out UK on the same weekend, the 6th of October. At this comp I pb'd (personal best) my snatch with 66kg however and got an 82kg clean and Jerk, the most I have done in a competition. I got a 148kg total. The next day at Rep It Out in Yorkshire and I did one full snatch and a hang snatch on 63kg. We had 6 more scored workouts using a weighted worm, pull ups, toe to bar, running, rowing, squats, burpees, wall balls and more. Sunday October 13th I went to Lydney for a regional squad training meet. I got a pb snatch at 68kg and a pb clean & jerk at 86kg!”

“Now I’m back weightlifting for the Euros in Israel! I get to wear the GBR weightlifting suit and I can't believe that I am now a Great British athlete and represent GBR abroad. All from the first competition I did with James' help! I can't thank everyone who has supported me enough. I think that this shows if you do not give up you can do whatever you put your mind to. It takes effort and sacrifice, I have had to sacrifice many parties and days out etc and my nutrition is very strictly controlled but it is all worth it. Go get your goals and do not let anyone stop you! I can’t wait for the Euro’s!”