Weightlifter Melanie Roach didn’t win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics Sunday. She didn’t even win the bronze.

But her triumph was complete nonetheless. And it was written all over her face. She had done her best – and then she surpassed it.

What more can be asked of any Olympian?

The Bonney Lake mother of three children – including a son with autism – had come back from injury, competitive disappointments, depression, surgery and near retirement to come in sixth at the Olympics and set an American record in her weight class (117 pounds). She made all six of her attempts, punctuating each success with elated fist pumps – an anomaly in a sport where dourness rules.

A dedicated competitor who is considered old at 33, it’s likely that few at these Olympics have worked harder and overcome more than Roach – all the while running a busy gymnastics business and raising a family with husband Dan, a state representative.

For many people, just being the spouse of a politician and the parent of three active children would be plenty to handle, much less the stress and strain of running a business and training for the Olympics.

But Roach has a solid support system that sacrificed to help her reach her Olympian dream, and many on “Team Roach” were in Beijing cheering her on, including her husband and her children. She also has a coach, John Thrush, who believed in her and pushed her.

Now Roach has a decision to make. Does she keep competing, perhaps gearing up for the next world championship or even the 2012 Olympics? Her coach is convinced she hasn’t reached her peak.

No one would begrudge Roach if she decided she’d had enough, that it was time to step out of the spotlight and focus on responsibilities close to home. At the same time, no one should be surprised if she decides to go for it.

And who would want to tell a woman who can lift twice her weight that she’s wrong whatever she decides?