'It's a really big deal': Robles becomes first American woman to medal twice in weightlifting

A local athlete won the bronze medal in women's weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics this week.

Sarah Robles, who trained in League City and Friendswood, became the first American woman to win two medals in weightlifting.

Robles lifted a combined 282kg (622 pounds) to finish third in the women’s +87kg (192 pounds plus) with her final lift of 128kg (283 pounds) tying Olympic medalist Cheryl Haworth's American record set in 2003, according to USA Weightlifting.

Robles was born in California, attended the University of Alabama, and with her 5-foot-11-inch frame, she is also a four-time Pan American champion.  

She also happened to celebrate her 33rd birthday on what she said is a remarkable time in her life. However, the school of hard knocks is what truly defines who she is.

"Weightlifting means a lot to me. I didn’t grow up in fancy, luxurious situations,” she told The Houston Chronicle. “I grew up in a trailer park in the middle of the desert (in Desert Hot Spring, California). I grew up as (a) little fat kid who got bullied all the time. I really struggled a lot, but I’ve gone from literally the bottom of the sport to the top.”

She also has a bronze medal from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and finished sixth in +75kg at the 2012 London Olympics.

The climb up the Olympic ladder was not lost on Robles who recognized the perseverance of her achievements.

“It’s a really big deal,” Robles said in a post event news conference. “I’ve struggled a lot throughout my career, it almost feels like I’ve been going uphill both ways with the wind against me. Going from the bottom in the sport, to the top in the sport, to making history in this sport means a lot to me.”

In 2017, Robles was the IWF World Champion and placed 4th in 2018, 6th in 2015 and 10th in 2011.