Taiwan's 'Goddess of Weightlifting' sets 2 world records, earns Olympic spot
台灣“舉重女神”刷新兩項世界紀錄，贏得奧運冠軍
| Kuo Hsing-chun sets 2 world records, grabs 3 gold medals, secures Olympic berth
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's "Goddess of Weightlifting," Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳), on Monday (April 20) set two world records, won three gold medals, and secured an Olympic berth at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan. While competing in the women's 59 kg division, Kuo started out the snatch category by easily raising 105 kgs. In her next lift, she snatched 107 kgs, setting a national record and tying the world record. On her third lift, she snatched 110 kgs, winning her first gold of the match. She also shattered the prior world record of 107 kgs set by North Korea's Choe Hyo-sim at the World Championships in 2019. In the clean and jerk, Kuo faced some adversity, as her first attempt at 133 kgs was disqualified due to unsteady footing. On her second attempt, Kuo hoisted the barbell with rock-steady poise, assuring her a gold medal in the event and her second overall. For her last lift, she attempted the world record of 137 kgs, which she appeared to raise with more ease than the lighter weight she had struggled with earlier. With a combined total of 247 kgs in the two lifts, Kuo surpassed her previous world record for total weight lifted — 246 kgs — and captured her third gold medal of the games. Her wins secured her bid at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because it marked her sixth International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) competition since 2018. Weightlifters wishing to take part in the upcoming Olympics must have competed in six IWF events between November 2018 and April 25 of 2021 and at least once in three separate Olympic qualifying cycles over that period. Kuo was among five Taiwanese weightlifters competing in the event. |
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| Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2021-04-20 |
