Ri Suk, a weightlifter of the Central Sports School, bagged three gold medals at the 2023 IWF Grand Prix and at the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championships.
Her successes owe much to the efforts of Jong Song Hui, a teacher at the school’s weightlifting department.
In 2004, when Jong was assigned to the school, she made up her mind to train excellent weightlifters and has devoted herself to her work.
In June last year Ri Suk was under training for the development of maximum strength in the run-up to an international competition. Having lifted weights time and again, she was so exhausted that she collapsed on the training ground.
The moment she saw her reddish cheeks, training suit soaked through by sweat, and wistful look at the coach, Song Hui would like to call it a day, but changed her mind and shouted to Ri Suk, “Again.”
“While you are buckling under the challenge, others are working hard. If you renew your record even a kilogram, it will improve the chance of flying our national flag on foreign land. So, remember you must try your best, splitting your hour into 3 600 seconds, not into 60 minutes,” Song Hui told Ri Suk.
Her exacting demand served as a “tonic” that helped Ri Suk take a shortcut to her physical and technical development.
Her strict demand was not everything in her coaching.
Whenever Ri Suk underwent intensive training, Song Hui would visit Ri Suk’s lodgings with some portable medical equipment.
Jong massaged Ri and used equipment to treat her.
“The state has found out and cultivated your talent. Under its care, you were and are able to spread your wings at the Central Sports School and the Weightlifting Gymnasium provided with all training conditions,” Jong said to Ri.
Her sincere remarks inspired Ri to redouble her efforts.
Song Hui’s devotion paid off. Ri Suk stood on the winners’ podium consecutively, winning a number of gold medals at international competitions. Under her coaching, many others flew the national flag at international events.
Jong Song Hui was chosen as one of the nation’s top ten coaches of 2023.
Jo Kang Byol
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