Dominance and Determination: Park Hyejeong Reigns Supreme in the Women’s +86 kg at the 2025 IWF World Championships

Førde, Norway – October 11, 2025

The final day of the 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, delivered everything weightlifting fans crave: power, poise, and unforgettable moments. The Women’s +86 kg Group A session – the closing act of this year’s event – gathered the strongest women on Earth under one roof. 

The Setting: A Grand Finale in the Fjords

Held at the Førdehuset Arena, this year’s World Championships marked the 120th anniversary of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

The Norwegian organizers succeeded in transforming the small fjord city into the global capital of strength sports for ten days. The stands were filled with flags, chants, and energy as fans from across continents came to witness the heaviest class – the one that traditionally closes the show.

Meet the Athletes

PARK Hyejeong (KOR) – the reigning world champion and Olympic medalist came in as the favorite. With career bests above 130 kg in the snatch and 170 kg in the clean & jerk, Park’s combination of raw power and consistent execution makes her the gold standard of modern super-heavyweight lifting.

SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix (CUB) – the Pan-American Champion from Cuba entered the competition with a 162 kg clean & jerk to her name. A product of Cuba’s unique numbered training system, her explosive technique and fierce determination have made her one of the most exciting lifters in the Americas.

THEISEN LAPPEN Mary (USA) – One of Team USA’s most reliable competitors, Theisen Lappen is known for her explosive leg drive and calm, methodical approach. A consistent international medalist, she has become a cornerstone of American women’s weightlifting in recent years.

CAMPBELL Emily Jade (GBR) – The five-time European Champion and two-time Olympic medalist came to Førde just weeks after suffering a leg tear. Many doubted she would even start, but in true Campbell fashion, she refused to withdraw – lifting through pain to inspire both the audience and her peers.

ZHU Linhan (CHN) – At just 18 years old, Zhu made her senior world debut representing China’s next generation of super-heavyweight excellence. Calm, technical, and poised, she demonstrated the meticulous form synonymous with Chinese weightlifting schools.

WANG Ling-Chen (TPE) – A stylish technician from Chinese Taipei, Wang is admired for her smooth, elegant movement – especially in the snatch, where she consistently displays near-perfect balance and timing.

The Snatch Session

The session began with WANG Ling-Chen setting the tone, smoothly opening at 105 kg and finishing with a solid 111 kg. Her rhythm and precision drew early applause.

The young Chinese lifter ZHU Linhan followed confidently – 110 kg and 116 kg on her two successful attempts, both executed with trademark Chinese precision to get a bronze in Snatch

Meanwhile, Emily Campbell – still managing her recent injury – fought bravely through her attempts. She secured 115 kg at first attempt but failed to lift 118 and 119 kg at her second and third attempt respectively..

Mary Theisen Lappen matched Campbell at 115 kg followed by next two failed lifts. Sarria Ruiz impressed with 118 kg on her third attempt, her characteristic Cuban tempo and rhythm perfectly in sync with the bar.

Then came PARK Hyejeong. The defending world champion opened at 120 kg, powered through 125 kg, and narrowly missed 130 kg on her final attempt – the crowd gasping as the bar rolled behind her. Even so, her 125 kg stood as the best snatch of the session, securing her the lead into the clean & jerk.

Snatch Medalists

🥇 PARK Hyejeong (KOR) – 125 kg
🥈 SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix (CUB) – 118 kg
🥉 ZHU Linhan (CHN) – 116 kg

The Clean & Jerk

The clean & jerk segment transformed the stage from quiet tension to a thunderous arena. Each athlete pushed to their limits as totals and medals hung in the balance.

WANG Ling-Chen opened at 135 kg, eventually locking in 138 kg for a respectable finish and total of 249 kg.

ZHU Linhan, still pacing herself in her senior debut, made 140 kg on her first attempt but missed 152 kg and 153 kg. Still, her 256 kg total marked a strong debut and positioned her fifth overall – an encouraging start to her senior international career.

The competition intensified with Emily Campbell and Mary Theisen Lappen trading lifts. Campbell started with a solid 153 kg opener, but then failed twice at 158 and 159 kg.. Theisen Lappen failed the opener at 154 kg , then successfully lifted this weight at her second attempt, which was enough for bronze medal in clean and jerk and total.

Then came SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix. She opened at 157 kg, missed her first lift, then made it on her second attempt – her only successful clean & jerk of the evening. It wasn’t a record, but it was enough to keep her in the silver-medal position. The Cuban team erupted in relief and pride as she secured the lift.

Finally, PARK Hyejeong returned to the platform. Her opener at 158 kg looked effortless – a perfect display of control and confidence that sealed her victory. She went on to attempt heavier weights, but they didn’t go her way. Still, that single successful lift was more than enough to secure both the clean & jerk and total golds, reaffirming her dominance on the world stage.

Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 PARK Hyejeong (KOR) – 158 kg
🥈 SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix (CUB) – 157 kg
🥉 THEISEN LAPPEN M. (USA) – 154 kg

Total Results 

Records, Highlights, and Turning Points

Park Hyejeong’s 283 kg total reaffirmed her unmatched consistency. Over the past three years, she has medaled in every major international meet, her precision and composure setting the modern standard for super-heavyweights.

SARRIA RUIZ Marifelix’s 157 kg clean & jerk showed the explosive strength of Cuba’s rising system – her best international performance to date and a sign of the nation’s steady resurgence.

Emily Jade Campbell, competing through a recent injury, fought for every lift and finished just one kilo shy of the podium – a true testament to grit and heart.

ZHU Linhan, only 18, impressed with her technical poise and calm under pressure. Her 256 kg total in a senior debut hints at enormous potential for the years ahead.

Behind them, coaches waged psychological battles – timed warm-ups, last-second changes, and mind games that turned each kilo into strategy. 

Conclusion: A Championship Worth Remembering

The 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde will be remembered for its electric atmosphere, record-level performances, and heart-stopping finishes. From lightweight precision to heavyweight might, every category told its own story – but it was the super-heavyweights who gave the sport its emotional farewell.

As the lights dimmed and the crowd rose to applaud, PARK Hyejeong’s smile said it all – the world’s strongest woman had once again lifted herself to glory.

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