'World records not enough': North Korea weightlifters target Olympic gold rush
- At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this week, North Korean weightlifters secured four gold medals and two silvers from six events, setting seven world records by Friday night. The nation targets a gold rush at the Los Angeles Olympics, their first Games in 12 years.
- Pyongyang sporting authorities focus limited resources scientifically on strength and technique rather than flair, according to Shreyas Reddy, a North Korea analyst at NK News who spoke to AFP. The regime uses sporting success to spread narratives about socialist ideology.
- Team manager Jang Song Nam told AFP that every gold medal represents "payback for our hardship over four years" of isolation. Athletes Ri Song Gum and Oh Kwang Ok dominated the 49kg and 57kg weight classes, each setting multiple world records.
- World doping authorities are back in North Korea as athletes return to competition. The World Anti-Doping Agency lifted restrictions in January 2024, and the International Testing Agency conducted out-of-competition testing inside the country for the first time in four years.
- Weightlifter Oh Kwang Ok plans to compete in the 53kg category at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "I will try my best to win gold in Los Angeles," the 28-year-old said, noting that "world records are not enough.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Asian Games | Three new world records set in men's 70kg weightlifting
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ri Won Ju of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea set new world records in the clean and jerk at 198kg and the total at 349kg on his way to winning the men's 70kg weightlifting title at the 20th Asian Games on Saturday. In the snatch, host Japan's Masanori Miyamoto set a new world record with a lift of 154kg to secure the silver medal in the same category.
(Nagoya=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Dae-ho = North Korean weightlifter Ri Won-ju reached the top of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, showcasing overwhelming power in the clean and jerk.
Several gold medals may be in prospect for North Korea at the Olympics, if the level at the Asian Games is fair.
Several gold medals may be in prospect for North Korea at the Olympics if the level at the Asian Games is fair.
berlingske.dk
PolitikenSeveral gold medals may be in prospect for North Korea at the Olympics, if the level at the Asian Games is fair.
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