A Rare Scene! Women’s Weightlifting World Records Now All Held by “PRK” Athletes

At the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships in Førde, Norway, the women’s 69kg category delivered a spectacular moment in the early hours of October 8 (Beijing time). North Korean powerhouse Song Guk-hyang dominated the event, sweeping all three gold medals — in snatch, clean & jerk, and total — while smashing three world records in one night!

Her extraordinary performance led to an unprecedented sight: on the updated October 8 women’s world record list, every record holder’s nationality was listed as “PRK” (North Korea).

After the Paris Olympics, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) introduced new weight categories, effective from June 1. Before the World Championships began, American star Reeves had broken all three women’s 69kg world records at a continental meet — but today, her name has been completely replaced by Song’s.

North Korean lifters have been unstoppable this championship:

• In the 48kg category, Ri Song-gum twice broke world records, raising the standard marks from 119kg and 210kg to 122kg and 213kg.
• In the 58kg division, Kim Il-kyong improved the total record to 236kg.
• In the 63kg class, Ri Suk was phenomenal — sweeping all three golds and breaking six world records in one competition!

With Song Guk-hyang’s triumph in the 69kg division, North Korean women have now claimed 11 gold medals and 6 world records across the first four categories — a display of dominance rarely seen in the sport. Song’s new benchmarks — 120kg (snatch), 150kg (clean & jerk), and 270kg (total) — solidify her place among the all-time greats.

As of now, the women’s world record list reads entirely “PRK” — a historic first in world weightlifting.
The remaining events (77kg, 86kg, and +86kg) are yet to be contested. While these heavier categories have traditionally favored Chinese athletes, the absence of top-tier competitors from China means new records are unlikely. All eyes now turn to Reeves, who will compete in the women’s 77kg event — could she be the one to break North Korea’s record monopoly?