North Korea best as Kim Hye-gyong fends off African challenge to win women’s marathon
North Korean shrugs off absence of her twin to fend off Africans and give herself a huge boost of making world championships in Beijing
With her twin sister and running partner staying at home in Pyongyang, Kim Hye-gyong took on the powerful Africans single-handed yesterday and pulled off a surprise victory in the women’s marathon.
The last time a woman from North Korea won the race was in 2008 when Kim Kum-ok and Jong Yong-ok crossed the finish line locked together in what appeared to be a dead heat. It was a politically correct move, although Kim was awarded the race afterwards by perplexed organisers.
They dedicated their success to their “Dear Leader”. Not the case this time as the Kim of 2015 was only looking ahead to the future, believing her success on the streets of Hong Kong could prove to be a watershed moment for her and her country as they look forward to the world championships in Beijing in August.
I was confident that I could beat the Africans.
“I’m really happy with this victory. I was confident that I could beat the Africans,” Kim said.
“Defeating them will do my confidence a whole deal of good, especially if I’m picked to represent my country at the world championships,” Kim, 23, said.
The diminutive Kim grabbed the spoils – and a winner’s cheque of US$65,000 – with a determined effort of two hours 31 minutes and 46 seconds, well short of her personal best of 2:26.32 when she won the Pyongyang marathon in 2013.
Together with her twin sister, she has been part of the North Korean national squad. From Sariwon City, the sisters began running when they were 14.
In second place was Ethiopian Meskerem Assfa Wondimag in 2:33.57, while compatriot Tsehay Desalegn Adhana finished third in 2:34.06.
