Kim Kuk Hyang, who was a diver of the then April 25 Sports Club, is the first world champion of the swimming circles in the DPRK.
Born as an only daughter of a sportspersons’ family, she started to learn artistic gymnastics from her mother who had worked as a coach at a sports club.
Afterwards, she was chosen as a gymnast at the above-said sports club and trained hard. One day, her coach told her an amazing news that she was selected as a diver.
How could I dive from a high platform? The mere thought perplexed her.
Holding the hands of the coach, she asked if she had no prospects in the gymnastic event. Expressing her resolve to make redoubled efforts in the future, she entreated her coach not to exclude her.
Her coach said she was more fit to diving and that she would readily get familiar with the event as she learned artistic gymnastics. She encouraged her, noting that she was able to be a diving champion if she made a little effort.
Though the event required highly difficult movements, she buckled down to training without hesitation as she had distinguished herself in performing the movements of artistic gymnastics.
So, she made a U-turn.
In order to learn swimming and acquire thrilling movements with a high degree of difficulty to be performed in a few seconds from start to entry, she never left the training ground.
As a saying goes, genius means hard work, she finally proved successful in several categories of diving event in the national youth championships held in 2013.
Later, she was selected as a member of the national team and made her debut in the 16th FINA Diving World Championships with a courage and confidence to be a sportsperson beating the world.
In the women’s individual 10m platform diving event she performed thrilling movements with a high degree of difficulty and correct entry and received 397.05 in total points, thus clinching a gold medal.
Afterwards, she bagged four gold medals in the 29th Summer Universiad and won the 17th FINA Diving World Championships, the 18th Asian Games and other international competitions.
As she exalted the dignity and honour of the country in international games, she was honoured to have a photograph taken with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un .
The state put her forward as a winner of Kim Jong Il Youth Honour Prize and People’s Athlete and invited her as a delegate to the 7th National Conference of Sportspersons and the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
Ko Chol Hwa
More From Naenara (En)
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
December 19, 2025
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
December 19, 2025
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
December 18, 2025
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
December 18, 2025
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
December 18, 2025
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
December 18, 2025
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
December 18, 2025
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
December 18, 2025
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
December 17, 2025
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
December 17, 2025
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
December 17, 2025
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
December 17, 2025
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
December 17, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
December 17, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
December 17, 2025
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
In the DPRK the best domestic products of the year are awarded the December 15 Quality Medal and certificate. Amid the fierce
December 17, 2025
In the DPRK the best domestic products of the year are awarded the December 15 Quality Medal and certificate. Amid the fierce
The Myohyangsan History Museum is situated at the foot of Mt Myohyang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK. The museum covers the
December 17, 2025
The Myohyangsan History Museum is situated at the foot of Mt Myohyang, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK. The museum covers the
Modern houses have been built at the Majon and Naeho farms in Hamhung City and the Paeksang Farm in Pujon County, South Hamgyong
December 16, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Majon and Naeho farms in Hamhung City and the Paeksang Farm in Pujon County, South Hamgyong
“I was deeply captivated by the colourful and glossy craftworks.” “The refined and delicate jade works show our people’s
December 16, 2025
“I was deeply captivated by the colourful and glossy craftworks.” “The refined and delicate jade works show our people’s
For the DPRK this year is the fourth year of the implementation of the rural revolution programme in the new era. Throughout the
December 16, 2025
For the DPRK this year is the fourth year of the implementation of the rural revolution programme in the new era. Throughout the
More Articles
