Player aspiring after top weightlifter
Kim Il Gyong is a woman weightlifter of the April 25 Combat Sports Team who was selected as one of the top ten best players of the DPRK in 2024 after 2022 and 2023.
Since she started her career as a weightlifter, she has immersed herself in training by displaying her natural aptitude and amazing perseverance and fortitude.
She participated in the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships to register good results. Later, she fully displayed her capability in domestic and international games.
In the women's 59kg weightlifting of the 19th Asian Games in 2023, in particular, she established a new world record in snatch and new records of the games in jerk and total, thereby winning three gold medals.
As a result, she joined the ranks of the world record holders in the domestic women's weightlifting circles.
Her eyes were fixed on the world games beyond Asia.
Though she won four gold and two silver medals at the women's 59kg category in the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championships and 2024 IWF World Cup last year, she could not rest on her laurels. Her aim was not the mere first place, but the record-breaking top place.
She made painstaking efforts with great ambition and finally felt the joy of success.
She snatched three gold medals and the best player award at the 2024 IWF World Championships by snatching 108kg, jerking 141kg (new world record) and lifting 249kg in total (new world record).
"Victory for medal cannot be called a victory. The genuine victory is the win achieved by setting a new record," said Kim, winner of the Kim Il Sung Children Honour Prize and Merited Athlete.
She now holds all the world records of the women's 59kg snatch, jerk and total.
Woman of ability in weightlifting circles
Known as one of the aces in the women's weightlifting circles, Ri Song Gum is the winner of the Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize and Merited Athlete.
She was one of the top ten players of the DPRK in succession from 2021 to 2024.
Starting to learn weightlifting at a county juvenile sports school (at that time), she laid stepping stones to success with painstaking efforts.
With her special ability in jerk, she always won victory in different domestic and international games in succession by relying on it as a weapon, recording a new record.
She snatched three gold medals at the women's 44kg category of the 2014 Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships and established a new world record in jerk.
She won the women's weightlifting event of the 19th Asian Games in 2023 and renewed her world record in the jerk and total events at the 49kg category in the 2024 Asian Weightlifting Championships and the 2024 IWF World Cup.
More From Pyongyang Times
The Workers' Party of Korea, the vanguard of the Korean revolution, is ushering in a new era of building a powerful nation by
February 26, 2026
The Workers' Party of Korea, the vanguard of the Korean revolution, is ushering in a new era of building a powerful nation by
The first meeting of the Political Bureau of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
February 26, 2026
The first meeting of the Political Bureau of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un delivered a closing address at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Dear comrade
February 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un delivered a closing address at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Dear comrade
The Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations condemned the US for its threat of war of aggression in a letter sent t
February 26, 2026
The Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations condemned the US for its threat of war of aggression in a letter sent t
The Belarus defence ministry on February 19 clarified to the military attachés of the embassies of 20-odd countries in its
February 26, 2026
The Belarus defence ministry on February 19 clarified to the military attachés of the embassies of 20-odd countries in its
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival's theme is "Steady
February 26, 2026
The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival's theme is "Steady
Ryonggang County in Nampho Municipality is ensuring the full-capacity operation of the newly-built regional-industry factories and
February 26, 2026
Ryonggang County in Nampho Municipality is ensuring the full-capacity operation of the newly-built regional-industry factories and
Staff members of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower on February 23 to mark the Day of
February 25, 2026
Staff members of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower on February 23 to mark the Day of
The Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, the General Association of Koreans in
February 25, 2026
The Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, the General Association of Koreans in
Charge d'Affaires ad Interim Vladimir Topeha and Defence Attaché Alexei Bartusov of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang gave a
February 25, 2026
Charge d'Affaires ad Interim Vladimir Topeha and Defence Attaché Alexei Bartusov of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang gave a
An online joint seminar of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on February 15 to mark the 84th birth
February 24, 2026
An online joint seminar of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on February 15 to mark the 84th birth
Hundreds of final-year students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province have volunteered for the forefront of national
February 24, 2026
Hundreds of final-year students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province have volunteered for the forefront of national
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Ri Sil Baek, who is living in neighbourhood unit No. 45 of Junhyok-ri,
February 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Ri Sil Baek, who is living in neighbourhood unit No. 45 of Junhyok-ri,
Cement production units in the DPRK are striving to increase production. The Sangwon Cement Complex has carried out its daily
February 24, 2026
Cement production units in the DPRK are striving to increase production. The Sangwon Cement Complex has carried out its daily
A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On Election of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of
February 23, 2026
A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On Election of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of
The fourth-day sitting of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on February 22. The Congress continued its
February 23, 2026
The fourth-day sitting of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on February 22. The Congress continued its
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed on February 16 that the Kiev regime had long
February 23, 2026
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed on February 16 that the Kiev regime had long
The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union was held at the headquarters of
February 23, 2026
The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union was held at the headquarters of
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art
February 23, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in North Phyongan Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art
A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On the Revision of the Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea" was
February 23, 2026
A decision of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea "On the Revision of the Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea" was
More Articles
