DPRK's Song breaks three world records for gold at weightlifting worlds

Song Kuk Hyang of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) competes during the snatch of the women's 69kg event at the 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)

NINGBO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- DPR Korea's Song Kuk Hyang broke all three world records in the women's 69kg category as she cruised to gold at the weightlifting world championships in Ningbo on Tuesday.

Song, who already held all three marks, lifted 122kg in the snatch and 153kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 275kg, finishing 16kg clear of compatriot Ri Suk, who took silver with 259kg. Colombia's Julieth Rodriguez claimed the bronze with 245kg.

After missing her opening 114kg before making the same weight on her second attempt, Song raised the snatch record to 122kg on her final lift, one kilogram above the previous mark of 121kg she set at the Asian Games in September.

Song opened the clean and jerk with 145kg before lifting 153kg on her second attempt, again bettering her own world record by one kilogram. That lift also took her total to 275kg, two kilograms beyond the previous record of 273kg. She withdrew from her final attempt.

Song won gold in all three disciplines, with Ri taking silver in both the snatch and clean and jerk. Rodriguez won snatch bronze, while Egypt's Roufida Abdeltawwab took clean-and-jerk bronze with 137kg.

"I am already training hard, but I will redouble my efforts, with the goal of winning the Olympic gold medal," Song told Xinhua, looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, for which Ningbo is the first stop on the qualification trail.