Jong Song-ok
Jong Song-ok in 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 August 1974 Haeju, North Korea |
| Korean name | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 정성옥 |
| Hancha | 鄭成玉 |
| Revised Romanization | Jeong Seongok |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏng Sŏng'ok |
Jong Song-ok (Korean: 정성옥; born 18 August 1974) is a female long-distance runner and politician from North Korea.
Career
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]
Later life
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]
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
- ^ a b c North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 493.
- ^ "Jong Song-Ok". Olympedia. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ^ "North Korea celebrates Marathon Queen". World Athletics. 5 September 1999.
- ^ North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 381.
- ^ 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.
- ^ North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 492.
- ^ "Pyongyang Torch Relay Passes Without Hitch". The Chosun Ilbo. April 29, 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
Works cited
- Yonhap News Agency (2002). North Korea Handbook. Seoul: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-3523-5.