DPRK player Ri Song Gum won the women’s 49kg weightlifting in the 19th Asian Games last year by lifting 92kg in snatch and 124kg in jerk (new world, Asian and Asian Games records), with 216kg in total (new world, Asian and Asian Games records).
Born in Nyongbyon County of North Phyongan Province, she began to play weightlifting at juvenile extracurricular sports school of the county and worked hard to acquire basic techniques of the sport there with an ambition of becoming a world champion. Later, she was picked out by the Ryomyong Sports Club and the April 25 Heavy Sports Team.
In those years she took part in over a dozen international events and fully demonstrated her power.
In particular, she collected three gold medals in the 44kg category of women’s weightlifting at the 2014 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships and set a new world record in jerk. It was an occasion for her, a newcomer, to show her great development potential.
Later, Ri Song Gum won golds in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships, the 29th Summer Universiad and the 18th Asian Games, fully displaying her ability as a promising weightlifter.
She also set two new national juvenile and six national records on the domestic front.
“It is a merit of Ri Song Gum that she trains hard by herself to complete every detailed element of technical movements as well as the daily training assignment. Exact demands on herself helped her become a sportswoman beloved by the people,” said Kye Song Il, weightlifting coach of the April 25 Heavy Sports Team.
Ri Song Gum has been selected as one of the top 10 players of the DPRK for the fourth time until 2023.
Competent weightlifting coach
There is always a good teacher behind a good student.
Ri Song Gum’s nomination as one of top 10 players of the country on four occasions is closely associated with the efforts of coach Kye Song Il who trained her well.
Kye is a competent coach who trained weightlifting stars. They include Song Kuk Hyang who earned three gold medals in the women’s 71kg category weightlifting at the 19th Asian Games and the 2023 IWF Grand Prix.
He usually devotes much time and energy to selecting players with a suitable physical constitution and developing and applying scientific training methods.
At the time of selection, Song Gum was physically strong, but had some weak points in her techniques.
Kye Song Il applied effective training means and methods to the training of Song Gum and at the same time made exact demands to her to correctly acquire the technical movements in snatch and jerk.
When her techniques improved to a certain level, he introduced advanced training methods into her training while increasing its intensity.
Thanks to his scientific education and training, women weightlifters including Ri Song Gum rose to fame as weightlifting stars fully prepared both physically and technically.
Kye Song Il was also chosen as one of the top 10 coaches of the country several times.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified the state national policy strategy of the Russian Federation by 2036 on November 25. The
December 03, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified the state national policy strategy of the Russian Federation by 2036 on November 25. The
Beautiful villages have been built at the Jangsan Farm of Ryongchon County and the Pihwa Farm of Chonma County in North Phyongan
December 03, 2025
Beautiful villages have been built at the Jangsan Farm of Ryongchon County and the Pihwa Farm of Chonma County in North Phyongan
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in Pyongyang from
December 03, 2025
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in Pyongyang from
According to a recent survey researchers conducted by using AI technology, more than 300 million people will suffer from at least
December 02, 2025
According to a recent survey researchers conducted by using AI technology, more than 300 million people will suffer from at least
South Phyongan Province built a new grain transit station specializing in grain transport, storage, processing and supply. The
December 02, 2025
South Phyongan Province built a new grain transit station specializing in grain transport, storage, processing and supply. The
Valentina Matvienko, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council, condemned the Western policy of confrontation with Russia at an
December 02, 2025
Valentina Matvienko, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council, condemned the Western policy of confrontation with Russia at an
New houses have been built at the Mangum Greenhouse Farm of the North Hwanghae Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Yonryu
December 02, 2025
New houses have been built at the Mangum Greenhouse Farm of the North Hwanghae Provincial Rural Economy Committee and the Yonryu
South Hamgyong Province has renovated Hamhung Stadium. The stadium equipped with stands, a referee room, players' waiting room,
December 02, 2025
South Hamgyong Province has renovated Hamhung Stadium. The stadium equipped with stands, a referee room, players' waiting room,
The national presentation of technical experience and exhibition of scientific research achievements in the agricultural sector
December 02, 2025
The national presentation of technical experience and exhibition of scientific research achievements in the agricultural sector
Rason Municipality concluded the reconstruction and modernization project of the Rason General Foodstuff Factory, true to the
December 02, 2025
Rason Municipality concluded the reconstruction and modernization project of the Rason General Foodstuff Factory, true to the
The Kosong bamboo grows in the area of Kosong County, Kangwon Province. In the late 1950s 50-odd saplings of the bamboo were
December 02, 2025
The Kosong bamboo grows in the area of Kosong County, Kangwon Province. In the late 1950s 50-odd saplings of the bamboo were
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently dubbed the Western mass media patronizing the
December 01, 2025
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently dubbed the Western mass media patronizing the
New houses have been built at the Ryokpho Vegetable Farm in Ryokpho District and the Oryu Vegetable Farm in Sadong District in
December 01, 2025
New houses have been built at the Ryokpho Vegetable Farm in Ryokpho District and the Oryu Vegetable Farm in Sadong District in
The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a speech at an
December 01, 2025
The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a speech at an
The Saesol Farm in Munchon City and the Roun Farm in Chonnae County of Kangwon Province have undergone big changes beyond
December 01, 2025
The Saesol Farm in Munchon City and the Roun Farm in Chonnae County of Kangwon Province have undergone big changes beyond
The Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Footwear Factory was built and the Pyongyang School Uniform Factory was renovated to hold
December 01, 2025
The Pyongyang Schoolchildren's Footwear Factory was built and the Pyongyang School Uniform Factory was renovated to hold
The Sunchon Building-materials Factory has been upgraded. The completion of a large-capacity building-materials production base
December 01, 2025
The Sunchon Building-materials Factory has been upgraded. The completion of a large-capacity building-materials production base
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 24 to denounce Israel's air raid on Lebanon. The statement condemned
November 30, 2025
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 24 to denounce Israel's air raid on Lebanon. The statement condemned
The construction of surface structures of Tanchon Port has been successfully completed. An inauguration ceremony of the port
November 30, 2025
The construction of surface structures of Tanchon Port has been successfully completed. An inauguration ceremony of the port
The 2024-2025 DPRK men's and women's premier football leagues have recently come to an end. The three-stage national football
November 30, 2025
The 2024-2025 DPRK men's and women's premier football leagues have recently come to an end. The three-stage national football
More Articles