The 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, from Dec. 6-15, 2024, concluded with vastly different record books than before it began. witnessed the shattering of more than a handful of world records. The records scored in Bahrain will likely endure the test of time as new weight categories will take effect in June 2025.
In the Women’s 59KG category, Il Gyong Kim of North Korea achieved a new clean & jerk world record of 141 kilograms en route to her overall triumph in the class via a gold-winning total of 249 kilograms — a whopping 12 kilograms more than silver medalist Xinyi Pei of China.
Il Gyong Kim’s new world record can be seen in the video below, courtesy of the IWF’s Instagram page:
[Related: Karlos Nasar (89KG) Sets Snatch and Total World Records at 2024 IWF World Championships]
2024 IWF World Championships Results — Women’s 59KG
The results below are listed in kilograms as: snatch/clean & jerk — total.
- Il Gyong Kim (PRK) — 108/141 — 249 | World Record Clean & Jerk, World Record Total
- Xinyi Pei (CHN) — 107/130 — 237
- Yenny Fernanda Alvarez Caicedo (COL) — 98/126 — 224
Il Gyong Kim methodically approached the barbell for her world-record lift. Taking it with a hook grip via taped thumbs while outfitted in a lifting belt and knee sleeves, she sat in a deep squat and gave a quick shout before honing in for the pull.
Il Gyong Kim caught the crowd with a quick pump fake of extending her legs before dropping back down and actually ascending into the clean with an expressionless face. Toward the top of the squat, after the barbell was in the front rack position, was the first time any difficulty could be seen through gritted teeth.
While standing, a breath of relaxation came through in conjunction with a step forward and a regrip of the barbell. A quick jolt of the bar via a small squat jerk was all that was necessary for Il Gyong Kim to lock it out overhead and rewrite history. Her body nary quaked or displayed the challenge of the weight held high.
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Featured image: @iwfnet on Instagram
