Paris — South Korean weightlifter Park Hye-jeong clinched the silver medal in the women's super heavyweight division at the Paris Olympics, marking South Korea's final medal of the games. Competing in the +81kg event at South Paris Arena 6, Park lifted a total of 299 kilograms, setting new South Korean national records in both the snatch and the total weight.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park's performance included a 131kg lift in the snatch and a 168kg effort in the clean and jerk. Her achievements in the snatch included progressive successful lifts from 123kg to a record-setting 131kg. Li Wenwen of China secured the gold medal with a total of 309kg, while Emily Campbell of Britain took bronze with 288kg. This event marked Park’s Olympic debut and she becomes the first South Korean medalist in this division since Jang Mi-ran in 2012.
Park expressed the immense pressure she felt as South Korea's last medal hopeful at these Games. "I was worried about what would happen if I didn't win a medal," she shared. Despite a minor injury during the competition, Park performed admirably, contributing to South Korea’s near-record medal tally of 32, just one short of its best at a Summer Games. Park's silver medal underlines her potential and resilience, showcasing her as a significant competitor on the international stage.