North Korean weightlifting phenom Pyol Pak was the star of day four at the 2026 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China. Competing on October 30th in the men’s U70KG weight class, he put on a masterclass of strength and precision to claim the gold medal. By the end of the session, Pak also managed to set new World Records in both the Snatch and Total.
Pyol Pak’s Full Performance Overview
At 23 years old, Pyol Pak was one of the youngest competitors in the U70KG weight class. He came in with a bodyweight of 69.85 kilograms (154 pounds), showcasing his professional approach and preparation for the competition. Demonstrating flawless lifting mechanics and extraordinary composure, Pak executed a perfect performance on the platform, not missing a single lift.
Snatch
Pyol Pak made his intentions very clear early during the Snatch event, showing that he came in to dominate the competition and sweep the field. He stepped out and comfortably made his opening lift of 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds), which already set the bar high for his rivals. However, on his second attempt, Pak requested 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds), which marked a new World Record following his flawless execution.
Saving his best for last, Pyol Pak came out for his final attempt at 157 kilograms (346.1 pounds), successfully locking it out to further advance the World Record and secure first place in the event. His score gave him a 6-kilogram (13.2-pound) cushion heading into the second half of the competition.
- 150 kilograms (330.7 pounds)
- 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds)
- 157 kilograms (346.1 pounds) — U70KG World Record
*Miyamoto Masanori held the previous U70KG IWF Snatch World Record of 154-kg (339.5-lb), which he set at the 2026 Asian Games.
Watch the snatch here:
Clean & Jerk
Utilizing his momentum, Pyol Pak opened the Clean & Jerk session with a massive 190-kilogram (418.9-pound) lift. Moving to his second attempt, Pak added 5 kilograms (11 pounds) to the barbell, which was enough to secure him a Total World Record. At this point, it was pretty clear that Pak’s victory was imminent.
With nothing to lose, Pyol Pak loaded 198 kilograms (436.5 pounds) on his final attempt, matching the Clean & Jerk World Record. He was once again successful and thus elevated his Total World Record to an astonishing 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds). It also earned him a convincing win, as the next best man’s total turned out to be 12 kilograms (26.5 pounds) lighter.
- 190 kilograms (418.9 pounds)
- 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds)
- 198 kilograms (436.5 pounds)
Total — 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds) — U70KG World Record
*Ri Won Ju held the previous U70KG IWF Total World Record of 349-kg (769.4-lb), which he set at the 2026 Asian Games.
2026 IWF World Weightlifting Championships: U70KG Rankings
- Pak Pyol (PRK): 355-kg (782.6-lb)
- Ri Won Ju (PRK): 343-kg (756.2-lb)
- He Baozhen (CHN): 339-kg (747.4-lb)
Watch the Clean & Jerk here:
Pyol Pak’s Total came out to more than 5x his bodyweight, which was absolutely mind-blowing. This marks his greatest achievement yet but is also a promising indicator of a very bright future in the sport for him. Prior to this, Pak placed second at the 2024 IWF World Championships but has now managed to get on top of the podium.
