Sports Community Highlights Kim Che-ryang
as a Promising 'Second Jang Miran'
On the 18th, at the 106th National Sports Festival held at the Busan Nam-gu National Sports Center, Kim Che-ryang (2nd year at Gwangju Physical Education High School) became the triple champion in the girls' high school +87kg category. Photo provided by the source.
At this year's 106th National Sports Festival, Kim Che-ryang, a second-year student at Gwangju Physical Education High School, emerged as a rising star in Korean weightlifting by becoming the triple champion in the girls' high school +87kg category.
On October 18, at the second gymnasium of the Busan Nam-gu National Sports Center, Kim Che-ryang swept all three gold medals in the girls' high school +87kg event by lifting 108kg in the snatch, 145kg in the clean and jerk, and achieving a total of 253kg. This marks her first triple crown since participating in the National Sports Festival.
Kim Che-ryang began weightlifting in her second year at Gwangju Physical Education Middle School. She originally practiced Taekwondo but switched sports at the suggestion of her coach. However, she did not stand out initially. At last year's National Sports Festival, she only managed to win two bronze medals, lifting 98kg in the snatch and 135kg in the clean and jerk.
This year, however, she showed a completely different side. Her stable posture, explosive speed, and unwavering concentration captivated the audience. Behind this transformation was the athlete-specific training program introduced by Choi Ki-young, the newly appointed coach of Gwangju Physical Education High School.
Coach Choi said, "Kim Che-ryang had a weakness in the snatch, but we focused on psychological training and strengthening her core and lower body. As her confidence grew, her overall performance improved significantly."
Kim Che-ryang is already attracting attention on the international stage. At the 2025 Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan this July, she became the triple champion in the women's over 77kg category, simultaneously breaking both the world youth and Asian records.
She is scheduled to compete at the 2025 Asian Youth Championships in Bahrain on October 23. Kim Che-ryang stated, "I will do my best to finish the competition safely without injury," and added, "Like senior Park Hyejeong of Goyang City Hall, I want to train consistently and one day stand on the Olympic stage."
Coach Choi expressed his confidence, saying, "Next year's goal is 125kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk. If she continues to progress as planned, she will surprise the world. She has enough potential not only to earn the national team emblem but also to surpass Jang Miran."
The sports community is already recognizing Kim Che-ryang as a promising athlete expected to become the 'second Jang Miran,' and she is being highlighted as a new rookie who could rewrite the history of Korean women's weightlifting.
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