The Heroics of Rim Jong Sim

The Heroics of Rim Jong Sim

            This was one of the most inspiring yet horrifying performances of this year's World Weightlifting Championships. Rim Jong Sim was the 2012 Olympic Champion in the Women's 69kg class. The 22 year old Rim was facing the likes of Kang Yue of China, Olga Zubova of Russia, 2014 World Champion Nadezhda Evstyukhina also of Russia and the 75kg Olympic Champion Svetlana Podobedova . Last year, Rim had moved up a weight class and won the gold in the clean and jerk, beating Evstyukhina on bodyweight. She had also won the bronze in the overall total.

Rim started off well hitting a 120kg/264lb. snatch, taking a bow and walking off the platform. She came back on a 5 kilo or 11 pound increase making 125 with a girlish smile. This put her in first place in the snatch. Then it happened. Rim upped the weight to 128 kilos. She set up for the snatch as her coach barked instructions. She began her pull and exploded. The bar flew up her like a bullet out of a gun, but the bar was too far forward. Rim caught the bar overhear and made a duck walk step with her right leg, but she couldn't save the lift. Down went the bar, and down went Rim. She was helped off the platform by an IWF official.

Most would think that Rim's coaches would withdraw her from the competition. This was not the case. I looked at the scoreboard and Rim's name was still on it. Lifter after lifter came up and made or missed their attempts. During time between lifts they showed the Warm Up Platforms with lifters who had yet to take an attempt. Who was warming up for the clean and jerk? Rim Jong Sim. I couldn't believe it. They were actually going to send her pout there and risk more injury.

Rim came out, gingerly, for her first attempt of 150kg./330lbs in the clean and jerk. The clean was as solid as a rock. She popped and drove under the bar for the jerk. It was a little shaky, but she managed to recover for three white lights. Once again she was helped off the platform. Would this be the day for Rim? One would have thought so, but this wasn't the case.

She came out for her second attempt being helped onto the platform and limped to the 55kg/341lb. bar all by herself. Rim set up and bean her pull. Her powerful muscles exploded as the bar rocketed upwards. Rim caught the bar on her shoulders and stood up with the barbell. A few quick breaths and she powered the bar over her head. The mighty North Korean stumbled backwards but kept her composure and got her balance. The down signal sounded and down went the bar. She fell backward and tumbled off the platform. The lift was good, and the crowd went nuts! Rim was helped off by her coaches and helped her to the back. Was this the end? Absolutely not!!!

Rim hobbled out for a third attempt at 157 kilos or 346 pounds!!! The crowd quieted down. You can hear a pin drop in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Rim wiped off her sweaty brow and grasped the bar. She gave a few psych up shouts and then got into position. Her coach barked a few commands. Rim began her lift the bar moved passed her knees and in an explosive burst upwards she brushed the bar with her hips and caught the bar on her shoulders in the squat and with a mighty push, she stood up with the bar. She caught her balance and stood there for a second. Her coach shouted instructions like Drill Sargent. Rim took her final breath and drove the bar over her head splitting her legs backwards and forwards. This time she couldn't steady the bar. Down went the 157 kilo bar; Down went Rim. No lift. She was helped off the platform.

When the medal ceremony started. Rim was helped onto and off the podium by fellow medalists Zubova, Podobedova, and Kang. It was a true moment of sportsmanship. When the medals were given out, the roar of applause for Rim's efforts was deafening. It was an inspiring performance. It was reminiscent of Kerri Strugg's final vault performance sealing the gold medal for the US Women's Gymnastics Team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. It showed us and taught us one again to never quit, even in the midst of extreme circumstances. This was a performance that would go down in Weightlifting History as one of the best that never took home the gold.

            It was also a horrifying one as well. I sat at the table in the media room frantically trying to edit and send my photos before the Men's 105kg Session A started. At the same time I was listening to the press conference that was being held with the winners of the Women's 75kg class. The competition was won by China's Kang Yue, Rim came in second, and Third was won by Olga Zubova. Kang and Zubova were present, but Rim was absent. She was being taken to the hospital. A Press official stated that Rim suffered injuries to her hips and knees. She couldn't rotate her hips and her knee was going to be looked at even further. The Press Official reported that a representative of the North Korean Weightlifting Team stated that Rim wanted to finish the meet and she did that on her own accord.

What kind of coaches, no, human beings would ever allow their athlete to risk further injury? The coach is the final authority in this matter. The IWF rules do not require doctors to stop lifters from competing if the lifter is too injured to continue. The question whether Rim will be competing in the Rio Games is unknown at the time of this writing. The question is why? What bothered me about this is that there was no indication whether the North Korean coaches even tried to stop Rim and talk her out of it. It asks the question whether it is right or wrong to win at any cost without regard to personal safety or even the consequences of peoples action. To Rim Jong Sim, I say well done in a performance that will be talked about for years. To the North Korean Coaching Staff, I say shame on you!!! What were you thinking letting this injured athlete risk further injury possibly career ending or permanent injury? This is a black eye on the Weightlifting Association of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. They should be ashamed of themselves.