Sarah Robles is reliable. On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, Robles brought home another weightlifting medal for the United States when she snatched 127 kilograms (279.9 pounds) in the Women’s +87-kilogram Group A at the International Weightlifting Federation‘s (IWF) World Weightlifting Championships (WWC). This lift earned her the silver medal in the snatch.
As perhaps the most tenured Team USA weightlifter active on the international circuit, Robles’ massive snatch in Bogotá, Colombia where Worlds is being held from Dec. 5 to 16, represents yet another milestone in an illustrious career.
[Related: Weightlifter Olivia Reeves Wins Bronze Clean & Jerk Medal for Team USA]
Robles opened with an explosive 120-kilogram snatch. She made a five-kilogram jump for her second snatch attempt, making 125 kilos look easy. Her third attempt at 127 kilograms, which secured her the silver medal in the snatch, looked effortless, too.
To accept her medal, Robles donned a Santa hat onto the podium, matching her red glasses.
The 34-year-old has competed for the States since as far back as 2008. She’s a three-time Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020) and is the 2017 World Champion, having won the now-defunct +90-kilogram category that year when Worlds was held stateside in Anaheim, CA.
This is not Robles’ first go-around as a medalist at an international event in 2022. She took home the women’s +87-kilogram gold medal at the 2022 Pan American Weightlifting Championships, which also took place in Bogotá. She also took home gold medals in both the snatch and clean & jerk in that event.
2022 World Weightlifting Championships | +87-Kilogram Results
The final women’s competition in Bogotá saw spectacular lifting across the board. While Robles did bring home a silver medal for the U.S., China’s Li Wenwen became the victor on the day when she Totaled 311 kilograms to win the session outright.
For both the snatch and clean & jerk, Li — the +87 Senior World Record-holder in the snatch, clean & jerk, and Total — didn’t even start lifting until the rest of the field had completed their third and final attempt. She ended with a 141-kilogram snatch, a 170-kilogram clean & jerk, and three gold medals (in the snatch, clean & jerk, and Total).
Here’s how the podium shook out once the dust had settled on the weightlifting platform in Colombia:
Women’s +87-Kilogram Podium
- Li Wenwen (CHN) — 311 (141/170)
- Emily Jade Campbell (GBR) — 287 (122/165)
- Duangaksorn Chaidee (THA) — 286 (126/160)
Note: The ranking above refers to the athletes’ results in the Total, the sum of their best snatch and clean & jerk. The Total determines their final placing and is bolded; their best individual results in each lift are parenthesized.
Great Britain’s Emily Jade Campbell missed her final snatch and her opening clean & jerk. She fought her way back to an emotional 165-kilogram snatch, earning her the silver medal in the clean & jerk and Total.
Duangaksorn Chaidee of Thailand finished just one kilo shy of Campbell, earning herself the bronze medal in the Total. She also took home the bronze medal in the snatch and clean & jerk, maintaining a consistent performance throughout the competition.
Team USA Leading the Way
Thanks in no small part to the efforts of athletes like Robles, the United States demonstrated strength and shrewd planning throughout the duration of the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships — one of the most competitive World-level events in years.
One final day remains at the World Championships before it concludes. If you want to watch the world’s largest and most powerful weightlifters battle it out on Friday, Dec. 16, grab a last-minute ticket to the Weightlifting House live stream on their website. The 2022 WWC runs from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16, 2022, in Bogotá, Colombia.
Featured Image: William Johnson / BarbellStories
