This past weekend, the USA Weightlifting American Open Series 3 (AO3) competition came to a conclusion in Las Vegas, Nevada. For US based weightlifters and for the sport of weightlifting, this event was huge for a couple reasons. First, it set a Guinness World Record as being the largest weightlifting competition ever held. And second, it was the first time the new IWF weight classes were implemented at a national level in the US, so multiple new American records were set at all levels of competition.
On the final day at the AO3, 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sarah Robles took the platform in hopes of not only topping her previous competition bests, but further etching her name into American weightlifting history.
Before the AO3, former USA weightlifter and Olympic bronze medalist Cheryl Haworth held all three of the Senior American Records for the women’s +87kg bodyweight category (previously known as the +90kg). All of her records have stood for over a decade, but one of them has fallen to Robles, and that’s Haworth’s long-standing 161kg clean & jerk Senior American Record that she set back in 2005.
To conclude her epic 6/6 performance, Robles called for 162kg on the bar for a third history writing clean & jerk attempt. After cleanly catching the weight at the bottom of the hole, Robles stood it up, took a few deep breaths, and locked out the weight in her normal authoritative fashion. Check it out below.
Author’s Note: The video below highlights Robles’ latest 162kg Senior American Record. For those experiencing viewing issues on mobile — check it out here!
Like mentioned above, Robles put on a stellar performance, going 6 for 6 and putting up a 282kg total. For her snatch attempts, Robles hit 110kg, 115kg, and 120kg. Then for her clean & jerks prior to the new Senior American Record, Robles hit 152kg and 157kg.
To add to the emotion filled setting of Robles’ new record, USA Weightlifting’s CEO Phil Andrews also shared an Instagram video highlighting the feat. In Andrews’ video’s description he writes, “This moment!!! Sarah Robles and Cheryl Haworth after Sarah broke Cheryl’s longstanding record.
One of many, many, touching moments that reminded me of the great community we serve, and what happens when you create a culture where athletes come first, where inclusion and opportunities are a priority and where service of your members is above all.
US athletes, you continue to climb, continue to prove the whole friggin world wrong.”
Author’s Note: The video below highlights Robles’ latest 162kg Senior American Record. For those experiencing viewing issues on mobile — check it out here!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn0GjBeheGa/
After this weekend, we don’t know about you, but we’re pumped to see what Robles can accomplish at the 2018 IWF World Championships in a couple months!
Feature image from @usa_weightlifting Instagram page.
