Jang Mi-ran

Jang Mi-ran (Korean: 장미란; pronounced [tɕɐŋ.mi.ɾɐn]; born October 9, 1983) is a South Korean Olympic weightlifter. She is currently based in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, competing for the Goyang City Government Sports Club.

NationalitySouth Korean

Born (1983-10-09) October 9, 1983 (age 42)^[1]

Wonju, Gangwon Province, South Korea^[1]

Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in) ^[1]

Weight118.07 kg (260.3 lb) ^[1]

Quick facts Personal information, Nationality ...

Jang Mi-ran

Personal information
Nationality	South Korean
Born	(1983-10-09) October 9, 1983 (age 42)[1] Wonju, Gangwon Province, South Korea[1]
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in) [1]
Weight	118.07 kg (260.3 lb) [1]
Sport
Country	South Korea
Sport	Weightlifting
Event	+75kg
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	Snatch: 140 kg (2008) Clean and jerk: 187 kg (2009) Total: 326 kg (2008)
Medal record Women's weightlifting Representing  South Korea Olympic Games 2008 Beijing +75 kg 2004 Athens +75 kg 2012 London +75 kg World Championships 2005 Doha +75 kg 2006 Santo Domingo +75 kg 2007 Chiang Mai +75 kg 2009 Goyang +75 kg 2010 Antalya +75 kg Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou +75 kg 2002 Busan +75 kg 2006 Doha +75 kg Asian Championships 2012 Pyeongtaek +75 kg

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At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she won the silver medal in the +75 kg category, with a total of 302.5 kg.^[2]

On September 26, 2007, Jang won her third straight world championship overall title in the women's +75 kg category by lifting 319 kg of overalls in total (138 kg in the snatch, 181 kg of overalls in the clean and jerk).^[3] She also surpassed the world record, which was set by herself in May 2006 in Wonju, Korea, by one kilogram. Mu Shuangshuang, who lifted 319 kg in overalls as well, ranked second because of bodyweight, but broke the record an attempt earlier.^[4]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in the +75 kg category. She broke the world records in the snatch with 140 kg, in the clean and jerk with 186 kg, and combined with 326 kg.^[5]

She won the gold medal in the +75 kg division at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. With this medal, which was her first gold in Asian Games, she completed the weightlifting equivalent of a "grand slam" as champion in the Summer Olympics, world championships and Asian Games.^[6]

In February 2012, Jang announced the launch of her new foundation, Jang Miran Foundation, and stated that the mission of the Jang Miran Foundation is "[to help] young athletes in minor sports."^[7]

After failing to get a medal in the 2012 London Olympics, Jang decided to retire in January 2013, saying she wanted to focus on her foundation and continuing her education at Yong In University.^[8]

In November 2016, Hripsime Khurshudyan of Armenia was stripped of her bronze medal for doping, allowing Jang to move into 3rd place for the Women's 75+ kg Weightlifting Division at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.^[9]

2016 MBC drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is inspired by the real-life story of Jang.

In 2015, Jang earned a doctorate in physical education from Yong In University.^[10] From 2016 to July 2023, Jang Mi-ran served as a professor in the Department of Physical Education at Yongin University. In July 2023, she was appointed as the Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in South Korea.^[11]