Singing weightlifter Kim Su-hyeon has big plans for the Asian Games

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Published: 05 Jun. 2023, 15:36 Updated: 03 Jan. 2024, 15:41

Singing weightlifter Kim Su-hyeon has big plans for the Asian Games

Kim Su-hyeon poses for a photo during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Busan Sajik Sports Complex in Busan on May 26. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Singing weightlifter Kim Su-hyeon is looking to succeed in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, where she hopes to display her weightlifting prowess and then belt out a tune or two.

Kim, 28, enjoys singing — both during her spare time and whenever she can find a vaguely willing audience. She sang Ailee’s “I Will Show You,” during a press conference after winning a gold medal at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju, South Gyeongsang on May 10.

“I was the last generation to train with strict rules while getting hit,” Kim said during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Busan Sajik Sports Complex in Busan on May 26. “I had to hide my talent in the past, but I don’t conceal it now when there is a chance to show off my talent in weightlifting and singing.”

Kim pursued her weightlifting career when she was in middle school after seeing former weightlifter Jang Mi-ran take gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Kim, however, has always fallen just out of medal contention at both the Asian Games and Olympics.

Her best finish at the Asian Games was fourth place in the 2014 and 2018 Asiad.

She then narrowly missed a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, after two out of three judges disqualified her for shaking arms when she lifted the 140 kilograms (308 pounds) in the clean and jerk discipline.

Weightlifting has two disciplines: Clean and jerk and snatch.

In the clean and jerk, the weightlifter must first pick up the barbell and bring it up to her chest. The lifter must then pause and extend her arms and legs to lift it above the head with a straight elbow and hold it until a buzzer rings.

In the snatch, the lifter must lift the barbell from the group to overhead in one continuous motion.

“I was disqualified because I was not good enough and I am trying not to move my elbows and improve,” Kim said.

Kim’s objective before the 2024 Olympics is to secure her first-ever Asiad medal this year against strong competitors from China and North Korea.

“I finished in fourth place in two consecutive Asian Games when I was 20 and 24, but I am going to sing if I medal this time,” Kim said. “China, which has strong rookies, and North Korea, which returned to the international stage after three and a half years, are strong competitors.

“The winner will be decided by a margin of one or two kilograms among those who lifted over 250 kilograms total in all six attempts.”

Kim’s best record is 255 kilograms total — 112 kilograms in the snatch and 143 kilograms in the clean and jerk.

Her plan to sing her way to victory should not come as a surprise to anybody that has followed Kim's career — outside of the arena she has even made an appearance on singing competition show “King of Mask Singer” using the nickname "Bigmama.”

“King of Mask Singer” is a singing competition program in which competitors wearing elaborate masks compete one-on-one without revealing their identity until elimination.

“I wanted to advance to the third round for the first time as an athlete, but I unfortunately failed,” Kim said. “My singing skills improved after going to the sports complex karaoke for years. Former golfer Park Se-ri, whom I met on a TV program, jokingly told me to publish an album with her.”

Kim Su-hyeon sings during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Busan Sajik Sports Complex in Busan on May 26. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Kim has not had a chance to display her singing talent along with her athletic abilities, but she is not going to let the past hinder her performance in upcoming events.

“I am going higher,” Kim said, citing lyrics from Ailee’s song “Higher.”

The Asian Games will start on Sept. 23 in Hangzhou, China.

BY PARK RIN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]