By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter

South Korean weightlifter Jang Mi-ran proved that she is still the strongest woman in weightlifting, setting a new world record in the clean and jerk en route to two gold medals at the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday.

An Yong-kwon, meanwhile, surprised many with two more gold medals for Korea in the men's over 105kg weight class, winning the clean and jerk and the overall in the last event of the competition Sunday evening.

Though Jang lifted only 136 kilograms in the snatch event in the women's over 75 kilogram division, she hoisted a world-record 187 kilograms in the clean and jerk for an overall weight of 323 kilograms, a full 20kgs more than second place.

She bettered her own record in the clean and jerk by 1kg.

The Beijing Olympic gold medalist has now won gold medals in both the clean and jerk, and the overall at four consecutive world championships.

"Instead of trying to beat my competitors, I try to lift one or two more kilograms every year," Jang said. "Because the event was held in Korea, I was very nervous but I also made sure I wasn't arrogant. I appreciate the many people who have helped me become the champion at four consecutive events."

Tatiana Kashirina of Russia edged Jang in the snatch, lifting 138kgs. While Jang has dominated her weight class, a gold medal in the snatch has eluded her. On Saturday, she was presented with her fourth silver medal in the snatch since 2005.

"I want to sweep all three events. I've been trying to fix one of my weaknesses in the snatch which I discovered at the National Sports Festival but I haven't completely worked it out," she said.

"Although I felt that something might have been lacking for me in this competition, it gives me motivation to work harder on my next goal."

Jang got off to a bad start in the snatch, failing on an attempt at 131kgs when she lost her balance while trying to stand up.

Jang succeeded in her second attempt at the same weight, but Kashirina lifted 135kgs on her first try. Jang kept pace on her third attempt, lifting 136kgs, but Kashirina set a new world junior record of 138kgs on her last attempt.

It wasn't even close in the clean and jerk. Jang failed on her first attempt at 174kgs, but when she succeeded on her second try, the title was all but hers, as the next closest lifter had managed just 165kgs.

With the title wrapped up, she used her final attempt to break the world record.

"As I am getting old, I felt it is more difficult to recover my stamina and sustain my weight, but I will do my best," Jang said.

An was not expected to challenge for the a gold medal but lifted 247kgs in the clean and jerk and 198kgs in the snatch for an overall weight of 445kgs.An ended up tied with Artem Udachyn of the Ukraine in the overall, but the Korean topped the podium because at 142kgs, he is about 16kgs lighter than Udachyn. An won bronze in the snatch.

In the women's 75kg weight class Saturday, Svetlana Podobedova of Kazakhstan grabbed all three gold medals with lifts of 132kg in the snatch ― a new world record ― 160kg in the clean and jerk and a total weight of 292kg in the overall. Lei Cao of China took all three silvers while Hripsime Khurshudyan or Armenia won all three bronze.

On Sunday, Marcin Dolega of Poland won all three gold medals in the men's 105kg weight class with lifts of 195kgs in the snatch, 226kgs in the clean and jerk and 421kgs overall. Dmitry Lapikov of Russia and Albert Kuzilov of Georgia won all three silvers and all three bronzes, respectively.

The six medals earned by Jang and An on the final day of the competition give Korea a total of six gold, three silver and five bronze, good enough for a third-place finish.

China topped the medal standings with 18 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze and Kazakhstan had six gold, three silver and five bronze.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr