Sarah Robles, who spent a two-year doping ban working odd jobs in American department stores including Macy’s, won the United States’ first Olympic weightlifting medal in 16 years on Sunday.
Robles claimed bronze in the women’s +75kg, behind Chinese gold medallist Meng Suping, just over a year after returning to competitive action following her suspension for taking anabolic steroids.
The 28-year-old lifted a combined total of 286kg to become the first American since the Sydney 2000 Games to step on the weightlifting podium as North Korea’s Kim Kuk-Hyang took silver.
Robles faced opposition from other American weightlifters who have opposed her inclusion in US weightlifting teams since she returned from her ban in August 2015.
