Jang Mi-ran, still a true weightlifter

Jang Mi-ran expresses her disappointment after lifting a total of 289 kilogram in the London Olympics women’s over 75 kilogram weightlifting event at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Center in the U.K., in this Aug. 6, 2012, file photo. She finished fourth. / Korea Times file

Jang Mi-ran speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the 63 Square in Yeouido on Dec. 20. / Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

By Kwon Ji-youn, Nam Hyun-woo

Once dubbed “one in 3 billion,” Jang Mi-ran dominated the female weightlifting world throughout her 15-year competitive career. Though she put down the barbells in 2013, she still thinks and talks ardently of the sport, and continues to lead the athletic community outside the gym.

During an interview before a charity event her foundation held in December, Jang, the 2008 Olympics gold medalist, said to The Korea Times, “As I was once a heavyweight athlete, many think of me as someone who is at the center, keeping balance. I really appreciate that.”

The 31-year-old seemed to regain her trademark vivacity as the interview progressed, maintaining her characteristic optimism throughout ― a behavior that contrasted with the emotional press conference she held in early 2013 when she called an end to her garlanded lifting career.

Jang had written history when she claimed the world championship title four times ― in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. She is also a two-time Olympic medalist. After having taken the silver in 2004 in the women’s over 75 kilogram event, she bagged the gold in 2008. In Beijing, she lifted a total of 326 kilograms to set a world record.

Despite worries that Jang had entered the twilight of her career, she competed at the 2012 Olympics and lifted a total of 289 kilograms to finish fourth.

And then in slightly more than 23 months, her life quickly and smoothly transitioned into its second phase.

“I’m very lucky. I competed as much as I wanted and achieved all my goals,” Jang said. “Many athletes find themselves being thrown into the middle of nothing after retirement, but I felt no emptiness, and I am spending each day busily working for the foundation.”

The Jang Mi-ran Foundation, established in 2012, works to support young and retired athletes, regardless of sport, and seeks international cooperation for advancement in Korean sports.

After holding its first scholarship event in 2013, the foundation followed with a series of other events at which Jang gave tips and advice ― as a successful athlete and as a senior mentor ― to students. On Dec. 20, she held a charity event and invited a number of sports figures and retired athletes like fencer Nam Hyun-hee and former speed skater Lee Kyou-hyuk to brief them on the foundation’s accomplishments over the past year.

“The event has also become a retired athletes’ gathering,” Jang said. “When athletes leave the sports arena, they have very few chances to meet and communicate with each other. But working for the foundation allows me to meet fellow retired athletes three to four times a year.”

During her days at the Taereung National Training Center, Jang took on the role of mother-figure to fellow athletes because of her caring attitude and kind personality.

Her friendship with Park Tae-hwan is well known. Jang visited Park during the Incheon Asian Games to show her support for the swimmer.

Her willingness to mentor may be why so many retired athletes join her at such events, setting aside their busy lives. Though she has just entered her 30s, she provides a charismatic leadership as president of the foundation and serving as a conduit to communication among former athletes.

“I didn't really like weightlifting when I first picked up the sport,” Jang said. “But I continued it because it became fun and I improved at it,” she continued,

“The same goes for this foundation. Since founding it before retirement, things have progressed so quickly. Helping young athletes and communicating with retired ones were not as easy as I thought they would be. But as I learned to manage things, I began to truly enjoy working for the foundation,” she added.

Jang said she had always dreamed of establishing such a foundation and helping young, talented athletes. She attributed the foundation’s quick growth to her father, and said she is merely returning the favor and privileges she had received during her weightlifting career.

Jang Mi-ran lifts the barbell during the Guangzhou Asian Games women’s over 75 kilogram weightlifting event at the Dongguan Arena in Guangdong, China, in this Nov. 19, 2010, file photo. She claimed the gold at the event. / Korea Times photo by Kim Joo-sung

Jang reunites with weightlifting

Unlike the typical life stories of athletes, who often tell of having overcome numerous adversities before finally rising to glory, Jang has been at the center of attention since her stunning debut at the Busan Asian Games at the age of 19.

“At the Taereung training center, there are several hundreds of athletes, but only a handful come to mind when discussing the Olympics,” Jang said. “The country showed me so much support during my days as an athlete. When the world championships took place in Korea for the first time in 2009, I had never imagined so many people would show up at the KINTEX in Goyang.”

She recalled the 2012 London Olympics, where she failed to medal but settled for fourth place.

“Even when I wasn’t performing up to scratch, they still supported and encouraged me,” she said. “I will always be grateful for that. The appreciation I have felt has masked any struggles,” she added,

“I’ve received so much, so I’ve got to give back.”

Jang recently accompanied the national weightlifting team to the world championships that took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Nov. 8 through 16, as a member of the World Weightlifting Federation’s athlete commission.

“It was the first time I watched a competition from beginning to end,” Jang said. “When I was competing, I was always up last, so I was never really able to watch the competition. And it was so much fun. I got to spend a lot of time with young weightlifters.”

After retirement

Jang has been spending most of her time managing the Jang Mi-ran Foundation, but when she’s not, she’s either studying at school or working on her English. Jang is currently a doctoral candidate at Yongin University.

Upon retirement, Jang had also expressed hopes of serving as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) athlete member.

“Until recently, Korean athletes weren’t aware that they can later serve as IOC athlete members,” Jang recalled. “But now, athletes are readier than ever to stand on the global stage ― they are strategically planning and drawing out a detailed future.”

Jang continued, “So many athletes dream of becoming an IOC athlete member, of holding meetings and engaging in talks with former world-renowned athletes. …” “I’m just doing what I can do to prepare, like learning English, should that chance come to pass. That’s all I can do for now.”

Jang, like a true weightlifter, likened learning English to lifting barbells.

“At first, it was very stressful,” she said. “I wanted to speak English well, but it wasn’t easy. So I set aside time for it, like I did when I was training. But with weightlifting, you can see how much you have accomplished when you set new records. When you’re studying, it’s hard to see how much you have improved.

“I end up comparing everything to weightlifting,” she added with a laugh.