North Korean Weightlifters Dominate Ahead of 2028 Olympics Return
North Korea secures five golds and seven world records at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Quick Look
North Korean weightlifters claim five gold medals and seven world records at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, signaling strong prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea emerged from a self-imposed Covid exile to smash six world records at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
North Korea’s weightlifters will flex their considerable collective muscle when they return to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years at Los Angeles in 2028 – and they could be in for an American gold rush if the Asian Games are any indication.
The secretive nation has been the dominant force in global weightlifting since emerging from self-imposed Covid exile to smash six world records at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. They also won six golds.
At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan this week, North Korea’s strong women and men have taken five gold medals and two silvers from seven events so far.
They had also set seven world records by Friday night, less than halfway through the seven-day weightlifting programme.
Open Questions
- Will North Korea compete in all remaining weightlifting events at the Asian Games?
