Team GB weightlifting champion Emily Cambell has urged communities across the UK to get active for improved health, as she is officially announced as an ambassador for National Fitness Day (18 September).

Fresh from her appearance at Paris 2024, Emily will join ParalympicGB swimmer, Maisie Summers-Newton, to kickstart the day’s celebrations with visitors at the London Aquatics Centre.

Emily claimed a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 where she became the first British woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport. Alongside becoming European champion in that same year, she then claimed Team GB's 65th and final medal of the Paris Olympic Games this summer.

Emily has become a leading champion for women’s training at all levels and is passionate about the theme of this year’s National Fitness Day, ‘Your Health is for Life’.

She has plans to open her own gym and wants to help the nation to celebrate the role these facilities play in keeping people healthy and active, no matter what your age, ability or background.

Emily said: 'National Fitness Day is about showing that it doesn’t matter where you start from, everyone can take the first step to being more active.

'Gyms and leisure centres are at the heart of our communities and they’re often a lifeline to the people that use them, not only for support in keeping active, but offering a safe place to socialise and meet new friends.

'I’m proud of what I have achieved for TeamGB but for me it’s even more important to use my platform to show the nation that strength training should be for everybody, so we can all experience the physical and mental benefits throughout our lives.

'I’m committed to giving back to these facilities and communities that have supported me to be where I am today. I’d encourage everyone to get out there and try something new on National Fitness Day – you never know where it could take you!'

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: 'We’re delighted to have Emily’s support for National Fitness Day 2024 and she has such an important message to share about the inclusive nature of physical activity.

'National Fitness Day is also about celebrating that our health is for life, and we are honoured to have two of the stars of this summer’s Games joining our campaign to celebrate the physical and mental benefits of being active.

'We hope that with Emily’s support, more people will be inspired to experience the power of strength and fitness training as part of leading a happier, healthier and more active life.'

National Fitness Day is powered by thousands of gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, sports clubs and other providers, hosting a huge range of free activities for people to try.

Schools and workplaces across the UK are also encouraged to take part, whether by hosting a ’10@10’ with 10 minutes’ of physical activity at 10am, or by putting on a group activity to encourage pupils and employees to celebrate the day.

Following the success of last year’s campaign, which directly inspired an estimated 10 million people to get active on the day, ukactive has again partnered with men’s mental health charity, Movember, and the world’s largest sports reward platform, Endurance Zone, to encourage even more people to take the first step in their health journey.

The National Fitness Day Location Finder can help people to find their nearest venue simply by entering their postcode.

For more information about the campaign and to get involved, visit the National Fitness Day website.