Park Hye-jeong wins women's super heavyweight silver for new Korean record

Park Hye-jeong became the second Korean female weightlifter to claim an Olympic medal in the super heavyweight discipline at her first Olympics.

Korean weightlifter Park Hye-jeong celebrates during the women's s +81 kilogram weightlifting final at the Paris Olympics at South Paris Arena 6 in Paris on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Park Hye-jeong won a silver medal in the women’s +81 kilogram weightlifting final at the Paris Olympics Sunday after lifting a total of 299 kilograms, becoming the second Korean female weightlifter to claim an Olympic medal in the super heavyweight discipline at her first Olympics.

Park’s silver ends Korea's eight-year Olympic medal drought in weightlifting and marks the country's first medal in the super heavyweight category after a bronze from Jang Mi-ran at the 2012 London Olympics. Jang is now the second vice minister of Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

Park started strong at South Paris Arena 6 in Paris, lifting 123, 127 and 131 kilograms on her first attempts in the snatch, going into the clean and jerk at No. 2 in the overall standings.

She also set the new Korean record in the super heavyweight discipline by lifting 131 kilograms. Li Wenwen of China had the highest score in the snatch at 136.

Park displayed a remarkable performance once again in the clean and jerk, lifting 163 and 168 on her first attempts, before failing to lift 173, ending it with a total score of 299 kilograms to secure silver.

Li won gold with 309 while Emily Campbell of Britain took bronze with 288.

Park’s medal marks Korea’s first and only medal in the sport at this year’s Olympics, with four other countrymen having failed to stand on the podium.

Sunday’s final wraps up the entire weightlifting schedule at the Olympics, which also end Sunday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]