Emily Campbell Team GB Nottingham’s Emily Campbell wrote her name in the history books as the winner of Team GB’s first-ever medal in women’s weightlifting, with silver in the +87kg category in Tokyo.
It was Campbell’s gold-winning performance in the 2021 World Championships that sent her to Japan. But her heroic first was the result of years of hard work and record-breaking results.
In 2017, Campbell set a new national record in the British Championships. And just a year later, she scooped bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Since Tokyo, Campbell has continued to secure her place amongst the world's best, with 2021 World bronze, 2022 World silver, 2022 Commonwealth gold, and 2023 European gold.
Helen Glover Team GB Helen Glover is one of Britain’s greatest-ever rowers. With more than 20 gold medals to her name, she is a two-time Olympic champion and triple World and European gold medallist.
Alongside partner Helen Stanning, the rower broke Olympic, World Cup and European records in the women’s coxless pair. Just four years after Glover took up rowing, she and Stanning won Team GB’s first gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Glover retired after defending her title in Rio and had three children. But she returned to the boat in Tokyo, becoming the first Team GB rower to compete at an Olympics after having children. Glover and her partner Polly Swann finished fourth place in the pairs final.
Glover was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours.
Asha Philip Team GB Asha Philip set a precedent early in her career, becoming the first British woman to achieve a global 100m title when she won gold at the 2007 World Youth Championships. And it was upwards from there.
In Rio, Leyton-born Philip won bronze as part of the 4x100m relay team. And in a high drama final at Tokyo 2020, Philip teamed up with Dina Asher-Smith, Imani-Lara Lansiquot and Daryll Neita to take bronze again in the same event.
Philip roared onto the podium again in 2023, teaming up with Lanisquot, Nieta and Bianca Williams to grab World Championships bronze in the same event.
Beth Shriever Team GB Essex-born Beth Shriever’s road to the Olympics began at just nine years old when she was invited down to Braintree BMX club in Essex. Falling in love with the sport, she had her eyes set on gold from the start.
And in Tokyo, just four years after breaking through the senior ranks, Beth made her dream real when she won the Women's BMX racing gold medal.
Alongside her success as an Olympic champion, Shriever hopes to be a role model to young female BMX riders all over the UK. She was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.
Duncan Scott Team GB Success seemed destined for Glasgow-born Duncan Scott ever since he won eight gold medals at the Scottish Age Group Nationals aged just 16.
He later proved that was just the beginning, as he came home with two silver medals from his senior Olympic debut at Rio 2016, in the 4x200m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay.
At the next games in Tokyo, Scott entered his name into the record books making history by winning four medals, which is more than any other British athlete at a single Olympic Games. This success made him Team GB’s most decorated swimmer in Olympic history.
Scott has continued to earn medals in both World and European Championships since, achievements which earned him an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.
Max Whitlock Team GB Max Whitlock’s career has been one of firsts. The Hertfordshire-born gymnast made history at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when he won Great Britain’s first medal in the all-around event for 108 years, before becoming a double Olympic champion in the floor and pommel events – the first ever British gymnast to win Olympic gold.
Already Team GB’s most successful Olympic gymnast ahead of his arrival in Tokyo for the 2020 games, Whitlock retained his Olympic title with victory in the men’s pommel horse, his third gold medal on sport's greatest stage, as well as claiming a fourth-place finish in the all-around team event.
Whitlock was recognised with an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.
