IWF120y/77 – 1980: Ho Bong-chol initiates DPR Korea’s success at the Games

Athletes from DPR Korea started their participation at the Olympics from the Munich 1972 edition onwards, but have already accumulated a total of 58 medals in nine sports. In 1980, in Moscow, tiny Ho Bong-chol (photo) initiated what would become a true story of success for his nation in the biggest sports events on the planet. Competing in the men’s 52kg category, he gets the silver (110-135-245), the first of a total of 18 podium presences achieved so far in the Games (weightlifting is the most successful Olympic sport for DPR Korea). After several more silver and bronze medals, Pak Hyon-suk became in 2008 in Beijing the first-ever lifter to earn an Olympic gold for the nation, in the women’s 63kg (106-135-241). In 2012, the DPR Korean delegation obtains five medals in the British capital, including three titles – Om Yun-chol (men’s 56kg), Kim Un-guk (men’s 62kg), and Rim Jong-sim (women’s 69kg). Rim will become in 2016 the only DPR Korea weightlifter so far with two Olympic triumphs, after clinching another gold, this time in the 75kg – with a performance of 121-153-274 (in London, she had won in 115-146-261). Overall, the country has five gold, eight silver, and five bronze medals in the weightlifting events at the Olympics. At the IWF World Championships, the figures are much more impressive, with 75 medals (only counting the Total results), including 22 wins. In the women’s events, and together with China, DPR Korea lifters dominate the World Records chart.