Growing up in
Desert Hot Springs, California, Robles competed in throwing events at San Jacinto High School in
San Jacinto, California. Top-ranked in
shot put, she earned scholarships to the
University of Alabama and
Arizona State University. At the 2011 World Championships, she finished in eleventh place in her weight class but first place among American women weightlifters. Robles qualified as one of two American women to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
2012 Summer Olympics Despite being the highest-ranked weightlifter in the United States, Robles lived on less than $400 a month leading up to the
2012 Summer Olympics in
London. As of July 16, 2012, a company called
Solve Media was Robles's sponsor. In competition, Robles came in 6th place in the
+75kg, lifting in the
snatch, and with the
clean and jerk for a total of .
Doping controversy On June 29, 2013, Robles failed a test for "DHEA, testosterone, and pregnanediol", and on August 8, 2013, was sanctioned by the
International Weightlifting Federation. and the
United States Anti-Doping Agency, which cited the discovery as "the presence of an exogenous androgenic anabolic steroid and/or its metabolites", removing her from competition for two years. Robles disputed the doping accusation, asserting that treatment for
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was advised by her physician. She did not seek a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) prior. Joe Micela, Robles's coach, stated that he did not approve of the DHEA use, calling it a "stupid decision", though he did not think it impacted Robles's performance. Robles's appeal of the suspension for medical reasons was denied.
2016 Summer Olympics On August 14, 2016, Robles won the
bronze medal in
Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's +75 kg with a snatch of and a clean and jerk of for a total of . She was the first athlete from the United States to win a medal in
Olympic weightlifting since the
2000 Summer Olympics. earning bronze. Competing in the
women's +87 kg event on August 2, 2021, Robles lifted in the snatch. She then lifted in her clean and jerk, for a total of .
2022 She won the gold medal in the women's +87kg event at the
2022 Pan American Weightlifting Championships held in Bogotá, Colombia. She also won the gold medals in the snatch and clean & jerk events in this competition.
Health Robles has a deformity in her arm known as
Madelung's deformity, which results in a
radius that is shorter than normal and bowed. The deformity leads to significant pain during lifts, and Robles treats the pain with wrist wraps and warming creams. Robles lives with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which typically disrupts reproductive functions and metabolism. ==Personal life==