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
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
January 03, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
Comrades, young people and officers and soldiers, I have come here just after the national celebration to share the beginning of
January 03, 2026
Comrades, young people and officers and soldiers, I have come here just after the national celebration to share the beginning of
Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on the issue of training talents at a meeting of the state council on December 25. The
January 03, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on the issue of training talents at a meeting of the state council on December 25. The
All the people across the DPRK significantly greeted the hope-filled New Year 2026. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred
January 03, 2026
All the people across the DPRK significantly greeted the hope-filled New Year 2026. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the sacred
The schoolchildren’s New Year performance in 2026 “Mt Country Is the Best” was given on January 1. The performance was
January 03, 2026
The schoolchildren’s New Year performance in 2026 “Mt Country Is the Best” was given on January 1. The performance was
Greeting the significant New Year 2026, all the Korean people pay the highest tribute and best wishes for immortality to President
January 03, 2026
Greeting the significant New Year 2026, all the Korean people pay the highest tribute and best wishes for immortality to President
At the time when students of revolutionary schools are growing up with pride to be the backbone of the Juche revolution under the
January 03, 2026
At the time when students of revolutionary schools are growing up with pride to be the backbone of the Juche revolution under the
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the US’ acts of hostility against Venezuela at a press conference o
January 02, 2026
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the US’ acts of hostility against Venezuela at a press conference o
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association
January 02, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association
The hope-filled New Year 2026 has come, encouraging all the people of the DPRK to turn out in the vigorous advance towards a new
January 02, 2026
The hope-filled New Year 2026 has come, encouraging all the people of the DPRK to turn out in the vigorous advance towards a new
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the General Association of Koreans in China on January 1.
January 02, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the General Association of Koreans in China on January 1.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received New Year’s cards from heads of state, political party leaders and personages of differe
January 02, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received New Year’s cards from heads of state, political party leaders and personages of differe
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
January 02, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
All the people across the DPRK are paying the highest respect to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, eternal leaders
January 02, 2026
All the people across the DPRK are paying the highest respect to President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, eternal leaders
On New Year's Day warm affection was shown for children by the benevolent father who represents the bright smile of them, the hope
January 02, 2026
On New Year's Day warm affection was shown for children by the benevolent father who represents the bright smile of them, the hope
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the
January 01, 2026
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear
January 01, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
January 01, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar
January 01, 2026
Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar
Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great
December 31, 2025
Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great
More Articles
