Sarah Robles is the strongest woman in America.
By taking bronze in the 2016 Olympics, the 28-year-old from San Diego became the first American woman to medal in weightlifting in 16 years.
That’s just half her story, though. Robles is also a huge advocate for positive body image. She’s not small like a gymnast, nor lean like a runner, but her body propels her to greatness on the world’s biggest stage. And for that, she’s more than grateful for her “atypical” body.
“To challenge ‘normal’ ideals is an important thing,” she told the L.A. Times. “It’s cool to be me. I’m big and strong and putting it all for good use.”
In a recent video from Superfit Hero, Robles described her difficult past when it came to acceptance.
“Body positive advocacy is important to me because I know how it feels to not like yourself, and to be self conscious and insecure, and my main drive is so no one else has to feel the way about themselves that I ever did.”
She may have won bronze, but for carrying the load of positive body image, Robles deserves gold.
