South Korean lifter Jang Mi-ran broke three world records to claim the title of "world's strongest woman" at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday.
With no opponents at all, Jang, 24, competed with herself in the women's over 75kg category event, met no Chinese lifters but refreshed the snatch, jerk and total world records, all set by Chinese strongwomen.
Jang took her first snatch attempt after all the other 10 lifters finished. She made three successful attempts and finished the snatch section with 140kg, bettering world record, held by her long-time rival China's Mu Shuangshuang, by one kilo.
She hoisted 183kg in her second jerk attempt, breaking the jerk world record, held by China's Tang Gonghong in Athens, and also Mu's world record of total, bettering it by 4 kilos.
Jang, Athens silver medalist and three-time world champion, didn't stop. She renewed the minute-old records by successfully lifting 186kg, totaling 326kg.
Jang, who had no expression in her face during the entire competition, smiled to the responsive South Korean fans when climbing onto the podium for gold medalist.
Olha Korobka of Ukraine took the silver with 277kg and the bronze went to Kazakhstan's Mariya Grabovetskaya, who cleared 270kg.
Mu Shuangshuang didn't take part in the Olympics as China gave up this category due to a rule which restricts each NOC's competitors to a maximum of four in women's events.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)