Won Ju Ri has been incredibly impressive over the past couple of years, with his hard work culminating in a spectacular appearance at the 2024 IWF World Weightlifting Championships. The competition is taking place from December 6-15 in Manama, Bahrain, and Won Ju competed in the 67-kilogram weight class. He came out triumphant but also set a new 190-kg (418.9-lb) Clean & Jerk World Record.
Won Ju Ri’s Full Performance Overview
Snatch
Won Ju Ri’s Snatch is very solid, but it is often not an event where he is able to build an advantage. However, he is making improvements, as seen at the 2024 IWF World Weightlifting Championships. Namely, Won Ju opened up with a 138-kilogram (304.2-pound) snatch, making it look easy and building up excitement about the remaining two lifts.
On his second attempt, Won Ju Ri increased the weight to 143 kilograms (315.3 pounds), which was close to his competition personal record. The crowd waited patiently to see how Won Ju would look on his second attempt and were delighted to see him smoke the lift. With one attempt left, Won Ju boldly added another 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) to the bar, pushing it to 146 kilograms (321.9 pounds) overall. He once again managed to lock out the Snatch, making it the heaviest that he has achieved in an international competition.
- 138 kilograms (304.2 pounds)
- 143 kilograms (315.3 pounds)
- 146 kilograms (321.9 pounds)
Clean & Jerk
Won Ju Ri was stuck in fifth place following the snatch event, finding himself 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) behind the overall leader. Luckily for him, the Clean & Jerk event was next, where his abilities were unmatched by any other athlete in the division. It unfortunately didn’t start the way he hoped, having missed his opener of 182 kilograms (401.2 pounds).
Won Ju Ri decided to stick with the same weight for the second attempt as well. This time he looked much better, locking out the lift and receiving validation from the judges. However, at the same time, the overall leader, Pak Pyol, was attempting a 190-kilogram (418.9-pound) Clean & Jerk, which would have broken the record. Luckily for Won Ju, his rival was unsuccessful.
Knowing that Pyol was going for the record, Won Ju Ri also decided to load 190 kilograms (418.9 pounds) for his final Clean & Jerk. There was not a point in the lift where Won Ju looked like he would fail, having confidently Cleaned the bar off the floor and then Split Jerked it above his head. Consequently, he set a new U67KG World Record.
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Pak Pyol tried to lift 191 kilograms (421 pounds) on his final attempt to beat Won Ju Ri’s record. However, he was once again unsuccessful.
- Unsuccessful — 182 kilograms (401.2 pounds)
- 182 kilograms (401.2 pounds)
- 190 kilograms (418.9 pounds) — U67KG IWF World Record
*Won Ju Ri also held the previous U67KG IWF Clean & Jerk World Record of 189 kilograms (416.7 pounds). He set that record at the 2024 IWF World Cup.
Total — 336 kilograms (740.8 pounds)
Watch the record-breaking Clean & Jerk here:
Won Ju Ri has now added the title of 2024 IWF World Weightlifting Champion to his impressive resume, meaning that it now stands alongside his titles from the Asian Championships, IWF World Cup, and IWF Grand Prix II. Moreover, he improved his own World Record and got within 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of the Total World Record as well.
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