Robles, Sarah

NOC United States   
GenderWomen
Born08 Jan 1988 in San Diego, CA, USA
Height1.79 m
Human Interest
Further Personal Information
Residence Houston, TX, USA
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Team Houston: United States
Further Personal Information
Higher education Physical Education - Mt. San Jacinto College: United States
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She initially used weightlifting to supplement her athletics training at high school and university. "It has a place for everyone. I love the challenge and the confidence I get from training and competing."
Name of coach Tim Swords [personal], USA, from 2014
When and where did you begin this sport? She took up the sport seriously in 2008 in Mesa, AZ, United States of America.
Further Personal Information
Languages English
General Interest
Other sports She competed in shot put at college level in the United States of America. (desertsun.com, 19 May 2021; Athlete, 01 Aug 2012)
Famous relatives Her cousin Eric Weddle has played American football in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. (foxsports.com, 15 Nov 2016; Athlete, 01 Aug 2012)
Hero / Idol Her mother Joy. (Athlete, 01 Aug 2012)
Awards and honours In 2011 she was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. (sarahliftsheavy.com, 30 Aug 2016)
International Debut
Competing for United States
Tournament Pan American Championships
Location Chicago, IL, USA
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
General Interest
Nicknames Rowbuhlese (Athlete, 01 Aug 2012)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Have good sportsmanship, have fun, do my best." (Athlete, 01 Aug 2012)
Other information OVERCOMING SLEEP APNEA
She received treatment for sleep apnea in the early part of 2021, as she had found the condition had been affecting her performances. "My training was complete garbage. My body hurt all the time, I was having trouble thinking, and in every free minute of my time I was tucked in bed trying to sleep or just 'rest my eyes' until the next thing I had to do. No matter what I did with my diet, training, recovery, I was not getting better. I felt like my body just couldn't take it anymore. I knew there was something else going on. I sucked it up and got a sleep study done. I had so much fear and worse - shame that stopped me from submitting myself to testing. One fear was that if I knew I had sleep apnea, I would be afraid to sleep and would lose even more sleep. The sleep doctors and coaches were so nice throughout the process and everyone involved helped quench some fears of mine. After just one night on sleep treatment I felt better and I [felt] like this is going to be life-changing for the better." (Facebook page, 04 May 2021)

LEADERSHIP ROLE
She is making her third Olympic appearance at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, and hopes to use her experience to help her younger teammates. "I feel like I'm approachable and knowledgeable enough to help someone when they need it. If [the athletes] need any help, they can always ask. I'm always going to try to do the right thing for Team USA. [The younger athletes should] ask for help when you need it. It's OK to be nervous. Remember that you earned the right to be here. Take your responsibility of being a representative of the USA seriously and be a good example. 'USA' is the most important name on your singlet." (barbend.com, 19 May 2021)

SANCTION
In January 2014 she received a two-year ban [backdated from 08 August 2013 to 07 August 2015] from the United States Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], testosterone, and pregnanediol. She said she used a supplement containing the substance on advice from doctors to treat polycystic ovary syndrome. (iwf.net, 01 May 2017; usada.org, 01 Jan 2017; insidethegames.biz, 15 Jan 2014)
International Debut
Year 2009
General Interest
Injuries In 2007 she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], which has affected her weight and caused other health problems. She has also been diagnosed with Madelung's deformity in both her arms, which results in the radius bone of her forearm being shorter than normal and bowed. She uses wrist straps and warming creams to alleviate pain during her lifts. (sarahliftsheavy.com, 30 Aug 2016)
Hobbies Going to church, reading, making jewellery. (teamusa.org, 01 Sep 2020)
Ambitions To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (desertsun.com, 19 May 2021)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2020 3 +87kg   Tokyo
2016 3 +75kg   Rio de Janeiro
2012 6 +75kg   London
World Championships
2023 5 +87kg   Riyadh
2023 5 +87kg - Snatch   Riyadh
2023 6 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Riyadh
2022 4 +87kg   Bogotá
2022 2 +87kg - Snatch   Bogotá
2022 7 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Bogotá
2021 5 +87kg   Tashkent
2021 5 +87kg - Snatch   Tashkent
2021 5 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Tashkent
2019 7 +87kg   Pattaya
2019 7 +87kg - Snatch   Pattaya
2019 5 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Pattaya
2018 4 +87kg   Ashgabat
2018 4 +87kg - Snatch   Ashgabat
2018 4 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Ashgabat
2017 1 +90kg   Anaheim, CA
2017 1 +90kg - Snatch   Anaheim, CA
2017 1 +90kg - Clean & Jerk   Anaheim, CA
2015 6 +75kg   Houston, TX
2015 6 +75kg - Snatch   Houston, TX
2015 6 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Houston, TX
2011 10 +75kg   Paris
2011 7 +75kg - Snatch   Paris
2011 14 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Paris
2010 10 +75kg   Antalya
2010 9 +75kg - Snatch   Antalya
2010 12 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Antalya
2009 11 +75kg   Goyang
2009 14 +75kg - Snatch   Goyang
2009 10 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Goyang
Pan American Games
2019 1 +87kg   Lima
2011   +75kg   Guadalajara
Pan American Championships
2023 2 +87kg   San Carlos de Bariloche
2023 1 +87kg - Snatch   San Carlos de Bariloche
2023 3 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   San Carlos de Bariloche
2022 1 +87kg   Bogotá
2022 1 +87kg - Snatch   Bogotá
2022 1 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Bogotá
2020 1 +87kg   Santo Domingo
2020 1 +87kg - Snatch   Santo Domingo
2020 1 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Santo Domingo
2019 1 +87kg   Guatemala City
2019 1 +87kg - Snatch   Guatemala City
2019 1 +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Guatemala City
2018 1 +90kg   Santo Domingo
2018 2 +90kg - Snatch   Santo Domingo
2018 1 +90kg - Clean & Jerk   Santo Domingo
2017 1 +90kg   Miami, FL
2017 1 +90kg - Snatch   Miami, FL
2017 1 +90kg - Clean & Jerk   Miami, FL
2013   +75kg   
2013   +75kg - Snatch   
2013   +75kg - Clean & Jerk   
2010 2 +75kg   Guatemala City
2010 3 +75kg - Snatch   Guatemala City
2010 2 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Guatemala City
2009 6 +75kg   Chicago, IL
2009 7 +75kg - Snatch   Chicago, IL
2009 5 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Chicago, IL
IWF Grand Prix
2023   +87kg   Doha
2023 1 +87kg - Snatch   Doha
2023   +87kg - Clean & Jerk   Doha
2015 1 +75kg   Groznyy
2015 1 +75kg - Snatch   Groznyy
2015 1 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   Groznyy
2012 5 +75kg   St. Petersburg
2012 4 +75kg - Snatch   St. Petersburg
2012 6 +75kg - Clean & Jerk   St. Petersburg