By Julian Linden, OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, September 28, 2026: Denied a world record after his first attempt was overturned, Ro Kwang-ryol made sure of it at his final try to claim his first gold medal in weightlifting at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
In a dramatic ending to the men’s 85 kilogram division, Ro successfully lifted 214kg in the clean and jerk to overhaul Kazakhstan's Alexey Churkin and win a seventh gold in weightlifting for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center on Monday.
A silver medallist in the middle heavyweight category (95kg) at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Ro dropped 10kg in bodyweight in order to compete in a lower division in Japan.
Despite trailing Churkin by 8kg after the snatch, Ro lifted 9kg more than his nearest rival in the clean and jerk to secure the gold with a combined total of 379kg, which was also a world record in the light heavyweight class.
Ro already thought he had won the gold at his first attempt at 214kg when he hoisted the barbell above his head, but just two of the three judges gave him a white light to signify the lift was good.
While a majority ruling can be enough for a good lift, the jury conducted a review and deemed Ro had pressed out, whereby he bent his arms before extending them, so the lift was not counted.
With no time to waste as the two-minute clock started ticking down, Ro immediately recomposed himself then returned to the platform and made certain of the lift at his next try to clinch the gold.
As the DPR Korea fans in the stands went wild, the 25-year-old Ro was overcome with emotion when he climbed the podium for the medal presentation, sobbing as he stood and saw his national flag go up and hear his national anthem.
“Remembering all the drops of sweat shed until then, the sweat shed during training and thinking of the motherland, tears came out without me realising. I couldn’t stop them,” Ro said.
“In the future, by doing even better and training a lot, I want to set a record that absolutely no one can follow.”
Churkin, 22, was unlucky not to win gold after breaking two world records, in snatch (173kg) and total (378kg), but had to settle for the silver while the bronze went to China’s Chen Shunnan (374kg).
“I was thinking about winning the gold medal and maybe I got a bit over-excited about that so I am disappointed about winning the silver,” said Churkin, who wore one gold and one silver-coloured boot during the competition.
“I set two world records so it was natural to think about the gold medal. But I have to accept defeat and be happy with my medal.”
