England flagbearers Jack Laugher and Emily Campbell both floated into the Alexander Stadium on the memory of those who have gone before.
Diver Laugher and weightlifter Campbell carried the flag at Thursday’s Opening Ceremony with the home team the last to walk in the Parade of Nations.
Olympic champion Laugher has been mourning the loss of grandmother Bernice, who hailed from host city Birmingham, in recent months.
Indeed the ‘classic grandma’ who was ‘bubbly, very honest and emotionally open’ lived in Sedgley, a few miles from the Sandwell Aquatics Centre where he will compete.
“She was such a supportive figure," said Laugher, who along with Campbell is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.
“I’ve made some choices in my life, opting not to go to university and to go into diving, and she always supported me.
“She always had my back through everything and she’s been a great figurehead for our family, who I’ve always looked up to and respected.
“I know that she would be extremely proud of me and want me to do well here, so I would like to do this for her.”
The Leeds-born star recently returned to Bernice’s home, filled with photos of her grandson competing at his first Commonwealth Games in 2010 and receiving his MBE from Prince Charles.
Earlier this month he had to make the gut-wrenching decision to miss her funeral.
He had planned to attend and leave his preparation camp for the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest but then Covid struck a number of family members.
“I had to think about the biggest competition of the year,” he said. “The risk was too high unfortunately because we were Covid testing out in Budapest.
“Sometimes unfortunately you have to put your sport ahead of some things. It was very difficult knowing that and dealing with it because she followed my career so closely.
“Obviously it’s something I slightly regret but it worked out well in the end.”
Laugher is the second diver to get the honour after Tony Ally did so at Melbourne 2006.
Campbell is the third weightlifter to lead England into the Games, following in the footsteps of Louis Martin in 1966 and the legendary Precious McKenzie eight years later.
McKenzie, who once hoisted Muhammad Ali over his head, won four Commonwealth titles and legend has it that the Queen was such a fan of the 4ft 11in 'Pocket Rocket', that she was late for an official engagement to watch him win gold at the 1974 Games in Christchurch.
"I met Precious for the first time a month ago and he's a legend of our sport, following him and Louis, both people of colour, that means so much to me," adds Campbell.
"It's even more special to carry this flag because of him, he's 86 and still a phenomenon. Him and Louis both achieved things that people didn't think were possible and now it's my turn."
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