Jong Song-ok
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | North Korean |
| Born |
18 August 1974 Haeju, South Hwanghae |
| Korean name | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 정성옥 |
| Revised Romanization | Jeong Seong-ok |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏng Sŏng'ok |
Jong Song-ok (Chosŏn'gŭl: 정성옥; born 18 August 1974) is a female long-distance runner from North Korea, who won the world title in the women's marathon at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in Seville, Spain. To date, it is the only medal ever won by a North Korean athlete at the World Championships.
Career
She competed at 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, finishing 20th in the women's marathon.
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.[1][2]
Later life
A report on North Korean television in February 2002 stated that Jong had married, but did not give her husband's name.[3] During the 2008 Olympic torch relay in Pyongyang, she was the last person to carry the Olympic torch through the streets.[4]
Achievements
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  North Korea | |||||
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 20th | Marathon | 2:35:31 |
| 1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 1st | Marathon | 2:26:59 |
References
- ↑ "북한 정성옥 보스턴 마라톤 불참" [North Korea's Jong Song-ok will not join Boston Marathon]. JoongAng Ilbo. 2000-03-29. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ↑ "북한 정성옥, 김정일 지시로 올림픽 불참" [North Korea's Jong Song-ok did not join Sydney Olympics on instructions of Kim Jong-il]. Domin Ilbo. 2001-04-21. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ↑ "북한 마라톤 여왕 정성옥 결혼" [North Korea marathon queen Jong Song-ok marries]. JoongAng Ilbo. 2002-02-25. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ↑ "Pyongyang Torch Relay Passes Without Hitch". Chosun Ilbo. April 29, 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jong Song-ok. |
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