Jong Song-ok

Jong debuted internationally at the 1995 Military World Games where she finished second. She emerged as a new star in a series of North Korean marathoners after having placed third at the Beijing Marathon.^[1] She also competed at 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, finishing 20th in the women's marathon.^[2]

Jong won the world title in the women's marathon at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in Seville, Spain with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 59 seconds. Her victory was celebrated by a crowd of over one million people and North Korean media dubbed her the "Queen of Marathon".^[3]

Jong is the first North Korean sportsperson to have received the title of Heroine of the Republic.^[1] She also holds the title of People's Athlete.^[4]

In 2000, Jong did not participate in either the Boston Marathon or the Summer Olympics in Sydney; South Korean media claimed this was due to the personal instruction of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.^[5][6] Jong became a delegate to the 10th Supreme People's Assembly in March 2000.^[1]

Jong married fellow marathon runner Kim Jung-won in March 2001.^[7] During the 2008 Olympic torch relay in Pyongyang, she was the last person to carry the Olympic torch through the streets.^[8]