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Making history: Former USOEC weightlifter Sarah Robles earns bronze metal

Sarah Elizabeth Robles of the United States competes in the women's +87kg weightlifting event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Sarah Elizabeth Robles of the United States poses with her bronze medal in the women's +87kg weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

TOKYO (AP) — Weightlifter Sarah Robles, who trained for a time at the United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University, made history at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Robles of the United States repeated her bronze from 2016 with 282, becoming the first U.S. woman with two weightlifting medals.

She accomplished this feat Monday, the day after her 33rd birthday.

Li Wenwen took the gold medal in this division — women’s over-87-kilogram weightlifting — for China’s seventh victory in the sport at the Tokyo Games.

Li was far ahead of her challengers as she lifted a total 320 — 140 in the snatch and 180 in the clean and jerk.

Emily Campbell became the first British woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal with silver on a total 283kg. Hair dyed red and blue, Campbell let out a scream of delight on her final lift and bowed to the audience.

The U.S.’s Robles was challenging for second place, but had her last lift was ruled invalid for elbow movement.

“The refs should be doing their jobs so they’re doing it. It is really, really strict but if there’s anytime to be strict, it should be at the Olympics,” Robles said.

Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard was also competing but didn’t finish after three invalid lifts.

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