Since the 2024 IWF World Cup began on Mar. 31 in Phuket, Thailand, every single weight category has seen new records set (and reset). On Apr 2., it was North Korea’s Kang Hyon Gyong who set two more: a 131-kilogram (288.8-pound) clean & jerk and a 234-kilogram (515.8-pound) Total.
[Related: Why Can’t North Korea Compete in Weightlifting at the 2024 Olympics?]
Gyong is far and away the most dominant weightlifter in the world in the Women’s 55-kilogram division. Here’s how she did on the day in Phuket:
Kang Hyon Gyong | 2024 IWF World Cup
- Snatch: 96, 101, 103
- Clean & Jerk: 120, 131 | World Record
- Total: 234 | World Record
After clinching the Total world record (the sum of an athlete’s best snatch and clean & jerk), Gyong declined her final attempt of the event. She won the 55-kilogram division by a 33-kilogram margin in the Total ahead of silver medalist Mihaela Cambei and third-placer Khaba Sorokhaibam.
A Winning Record
Unlike some of her teammates on the People’s Republic of Korea (PRK) weightlifting roster, Gyong is a tenured competitor with several International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) wins under her belt.
Since her IWF debut in 2013 at that year’s Youth World Championships, Gyong has competed six additional times internationally, winning four overall gold medals:
- 2017 Junior Asian Championships: 1st at 58KG
- 19th Asian Games: 1st at 55KG
- 2024 Asian Championships: 1st at 55KG
- 2024 IWF World Cup: 1st at 55KG
North Korea is ineligible to compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris because the country missed several early qualifier events. Further, the Women’s 55-kilogram class won’t be hosted in Paris this summer.
But weightlifting was recently confirmed for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and the categories have yet to be declared. If there’s a 55-kilogram event in LA, you’d be wise to bet on Gyong to win it all.
More Weightlifting News
- Hampton Morris Sets First Senior Men’s Weightlifting World Record for USA in 50 Years
- Li Fabin (61KG) Sets 146KG Snatch World Record at 2024 IWF World Cup
- Hou Zhihui (49KG) Lifts 97KG Snatch World Record at 2024 IWF World Cup
Featured Image courtesy of Weightlifting House
