▲ Kim Hyeong-hee
Veteran female weightlifter Kim Hyeong-hee (53, Seoul City Hall) has claimed a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games on her 53rd birthday.
Competing in the women's 67kg powerlifting event at the SME Promotion Hall in Nagoya, Japan, on the 21st, Kim lifted 107kg to finish third among seven participants at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.
Having previously won bronze medals with a lift of 107kg at the 2018 Jakarta Games and 111kg at the Hangzhou Games held in 2023, Kim secured a podium finish for the third consecutive time.
Starting her competition with a powerful shout, Kim effortlessly lifted 104kg in her first attempt and successfully cleared 107kg in her second attempt.
The color of the medal was decided in the final attempt.
After India's Kasturi Rajamani succeeded at 108kg in her third attempt, Kim challenged herself with 109kg.
With a loud shout and poised stance, Kim lifted the barbell, but after a video review, it was ruled a failure, concluding her event with a bronze medal.
According to the rules, the bar must be lowered to the chest, brought to a complete stop, and then pressed upward. Kim was judged to have lifted the bar without pausing sufficiently, meaning her lift was not recognized.
▲ Weightlifter Kim Hyeong-hee (far right) who won the bronze medal
The gold medal went to Rukhshona Uktamova of Uzbekistan, who lifted 127kg, while Rajamani took the silver by lifting 1kg more than Kim.
Kim acquired a disability from a traffic accident in 1995 while working an office job, and began weightlifting in 2007 at the recommendation of an acquaintance.
She has also competed in three consecutive Paralympics, ranging from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games to the 2024 Paris Games.
In Rio, she failed all three attempts, but placed fifth with 111kg at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.
In Paris, she overcame left shoulder surgery to compete and finished ninth with 95kg.
On the same day, Kim Gyu-ho competed in the men's 80kg event, lifting 207kg to place fourth for the second consecutive time following the Hangzhou Games.
Para powerlifting, a sport in powerlifting for athletes with disabilities, requires competitors to lie on a bench, lower the bar to their chest upon the head referee's start signal, pause, and then press it upward to determine success.
Each athlete is given three attempts, and rankings are determined by the heaviest weight successfully lifted.
(Photo courtesy of the Korean Paralympic Committee, Yonhap News)
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