Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2021: In her third Olympic Games, Chinese Taipei weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun has put her team on the golden trail with victory in the women’s 59kg category on Tuesday, July 27.
Sixth at London 2012 and third for bronze at Rio 2016, the 27-year-old Kuo climbed to the top of the Olympic podium at Tokyo International Forum.
Kuo’s lifts of 103kg in the snatch, 133kg in clean and jerk and 236kg total were all Olympic records.
"Since 2012, I have been having ups and downs. It has been very tough," she said.
"I would like to thank my coach, my friends and all the people around me for their support and the energy and strength they've given me.
"From 2012, that failure, to now…this gold medal. I finally won a gold medal. I am really excited. It's what I dreamed of and I'm really grateful for all those people who've been with me."
Polina Guryeva of Turkmenistan won her nation’s first ever Olympic medal with her silver after a lift of 217kg. It was Turkmenistan’s seventh appearance in the Olympics since Atlanta 1996.
"I would like to thank my coach. Just because of him I am here and a silver medallist," the 21-year-old said. "Two years ago, I didn't even think about this. My coach gave me hope, he guided me, he motivated me and pushed me for victory. I'm kind of in shock."
Mikiko Andoh of Japan took the bronze with 214kg.