Jang mi-ran bids emotional farewell to weightlifting

Weightlifter Jang Mi-ran steps up to announce her retirement on a stage at Goyang City Hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kang Seung-woo

GOYANG ― Jang mi-ran seemed to have more trouble in announcing that she will hang up her barbells Thursday than when she lifted heavy weights.

The visibly emotional 29-year-old said that she is ending a decorated 15 years in weightlifting to focus on her studies and her foundation that supports athletes involved in less popular sports in her post-competitive life. She also hopes to become a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“After the London Olympics (in August) and the National Sports Festival (in October), I started mulling quitting weightlifting. But I reached the final decision about 10 days ago,” said Jang, who burst into tears on reading her statement at a press conference in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

“I also thought about extending my career but if I had to be realistic: it was questionable whether my body could hold up.”

Jang, a native of Wonju, Gangwon Province, has had one of the most impressive weightlifting careers.

She became the first woman to claim the world championships four times in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 and is a two-time Olympic medalist _ gold in the women’s over 75 kilograms in 2008 and silver in the same class in 2004. She also topped the Asian Games in 2010 and the Asian championships last year.

In London, due to nagging injuries and the emergence of younger lifters, she failed to repeat her golden success and missed out on a podium finish.

Jang said it was a tough decision to make but it has turned into a thrill thanks to her new life plans.

“I had fears for the future but after mapping out a new course, I feel relieved,” she said.

“I will concentrate more on taking a doctorate course at Yongin University and playing an active role in talent promotion through my foundation.”

Jang established a foundation in February last year to support athletes in Olympic sports that are lesser known in Korea as well as those who need financial sponsorship.

Weightlifting is not a mainstream sport in Korea but Jang said she had a better athletic career than anyone thanks to interest and encouragement from people.

“After the London Olympics, I received undeserved love from fans. It was the best moment of my life,” she said.

On the back of her impressive legacy, Jang has set her sights on becoming the nation’s second IOC athlete member following Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Moon Dae-sung.

“Watching Moon serve as an IOC member, I developed a desire to follow in his footsteps,” she said.

“An IOC member can have a big influence on sports and as it is in line with my foundation, I want to undertake that challenge.

“I need to prepare now and try to qualify for the post.”