Song Kuk Hyang breaks three 69kg world records, targets LA 2028 gold
Synopsis
Song Kuk Hyang didn't just win in Ningbo — she rewrote the record books for the second time in two months. Three world records, a 275kg total, and an unbeaten streak in her category since the new weight classes were introduced: DPR Korea's 25-year-old is already the favourite for Los Angeles 2028, and she's making no secret of it.
Key Takeaways
Song Kuk Hyang broke all three women's 69kg world records at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on 3 November 2026 .
She lifted 122kg (snatch) and 153kg (clean and jerk) for a combined total of 275kg .
The records improve on her own marks from the Asian Games in September by 1kg , 1kg , and 2kg respectively.
Ri Suk (DPR Korea) took silver at 259kg ; Colombia's Julieth Rodriguez claimed bronze at 245kg .
DPR Korea has won every women's 69kg event it has entered since the new weight classes were introduced at last year's world championships.
Song declared her goal is to win Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028 , the start of whose qualification cycle the Ningbo event officially marks.
Song Kuk Hyang of DPR Korea shattered all three women's 69kg world records at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, then set her sights firmly on Olympic glory at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The 25-year-old's performance marks one of the most dominant single-session displays in recent weightlifting history.
The Record-Breaking Lifts
Song lifted 122kg in the snatch and 153kg in the clean and jerk, registering a combined total of 275kg. All three figures improve upon the world records she herself set at the Asian Games in September — by one kilogram in the snatch, one kilogram in the clean and jerk, and two kilograms in the total. Notably, Song overcame a failed opening snatch attempt at 114kg before completing the record lift of 122kg on her final attempt. She then succeeded with 153kg on her second clean-and-jerk effort and elected to skip her third.
Podium Standings
Song's compatriot Ri Suk claimed silver with a total of 259kg, while Colombia's Julieth Rodriguez took bronze at 245kg. The women's 69kg event was DPR Korea's final appearance at the Ningbo championships, and the country has now won every women's 69kg competition it has entered since the introduction of the new weight categories at last year's world championships.
Song's Words After Victory
In a rare post-competition interview, Song paid tribute to her coaching staff. 'Above all, I want to say a big thank-you to my coach comrade, who has helped me become the holder of all three world records,' she said. After completing her final lift, she slammed the barbell onto the platform and raised the DPR Korea flag on her lifting suit toward the crowd — a moment of rare public exuberance from the famously restrained delegation.
Eyes on Los Angeles 2028
With the Ningbo championships marking the official start of the Olympic qualification cycle for Los Angeles 2028, Song made clear she is already focused on the next goal. 'I am training hard at the moment, and I will redouble my efforts to win the Olympic gold medal,' she said, adding that her immediate priority was simply 'to keep up the high-intensity training.' Song also acknowledged the calibre of her international rivals, including Chinese lifters who did not compete in the 69kg category at these championships. 'Chinese athletes are every bit as strong as ours. We will keep taking on not only Chinese athletes but every athlete in the world,' she said. This comes amid a broader competitive environment where the LA 2028 qualification window is expected to attract heightened participation and intensified national programmes across Asia.
Point of View
Achieved twice in under three months. But the geopolitical subtext is worth noting: DPR Korea's programme remains one of the world's most opaque, and Song's 'rare interview' framing signals just how tightly information is controlled. The LA 2028 Olympics will test whether her country's participation can be sustained given the broader diplomatic climate. If it can, Song is the clear gold-medal benchmark. If geopolitical or eligibility complications intervene — as they did for some athletes around Tokyo and Paris — those records become a benchmark without a stage.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What records did Song Kuk Hyang break at the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships?
Song broke all three women's 69kg world records — snatch (122kg), clean and jerk (153kg), and total (275kg) — at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China on 3 November 2026. These improve on her own records set at the Asian Games in September by one, one, and two kilograms respectively.
Who finished second and third in the women's 69kg event in Ningbo?
DPR Korea's Ri Suk claimed silver with a total of 259kg, and Colombia's Julieth Rodriguez took bronze with 245kg. The top two places in the category were swept by DPR Korea.
What is Song Kuk Hyang's goal for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
Song has declared her ambition to win the Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The Ningbo championships mark the start of the official Olympic qualification cycle, and Song said she would 'redouble her efforts' in training toward that goal.
How dominant has DPR Korea been in the women's 69kg category?
DPR Korea has won every women's 69kg competition it has entered since the category was introduced at last year's world championships. Song now holds all three world records in the division.
What did Song Kuk Hyang say about Chinese weightlifters?
Song acknowledged Chinese athletes as equally strong rivals, even though China did not field a competitor in the 69kg category at Ningbo. She said: 'We will keep taking on not only Chinese athletes but every athlete in the world.'
