Elizabeth Osifelo/PACNEWS

Sasser, who made her Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, described the unique and indescribable feeling that comes with competing on the world’s biggest stage and expressed her hope to see more women take up the sport in the future.

After giving her all on the Weightlifting platform at Arena 6 South Paris, Sasser felt calm and content, grateful for the opportunity to represent the Marshall Islands once again.

She hopes that young women and girls from her country will follow in her footsteps.

"I am getting older and don’t know where this journey will take me, so I want someone to take my place," she said.

Sasser encourages other potential female weightlifters to never give up on the sport, acknowledging that while it may seem challenging, it offers many benefits, including improved mental and physical well-being, and is ultimately a fun and rewarding experience.

Reflecting on the eight-year gap between her Olympic appearances in 2016 and 2024, Sasser admitted that maintaining consistency and training has been difficult.

“It hasn't been easy but having good support from family and friends has helped to keep pursuing the sport,” she said.

Since moving to the USA in 2016, Sasser has trained and resided abroad, dedicating herself to the sport she loves.

Sasser also voiced her concerns about the future of Olympic weightlifting, noting that it would be hard and sad to see the sport removed from the Olympic program in 2028.

She pointed out that the number of weightlifting slots has significantly decreased over the past Olympic Games, with only 120 slots available in Paris 2024, down from 196 in Tokyo 2020, and 260 in Rio 2016.