Kuo Hsing-chun

Hsing-chun Kuo finally held the sought-after gold at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021 when she broke three Olympic records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and combined lifts in her 59kg weight class. Still, it was an imperfect win for Kuo, who was unable to break her own record of lifting 140kg, fuelling her resolve to achieve her ultimate goal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Born in Yilan County, Taiwan, Kuo graduated from the Department of Physical Education of National Taitung Sports Middle School and Fu Jen University, where she is now a professor. An athletic student from a disadvantaged background, she discovered weightlifting in high school, winning Taiwan’s first medal at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. While training for the 2014 Asian Games, she suffered an injury from a 100kg barbell that tore 70 per cent of her right thigh muscles, leaving her wheelchair-bound for a month. And yet, still recovering, she managed to win her first Olympic medal in Rio in 2016.

Kuo broke three new Olympic records and won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with an impressive 59kg display. However, she failed to break her record of 140kg, which has inspired her determination to achieve this at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Aside from currently holding 11 senior world records, Kuo is also known for giving back. In 2015, she donated NT$1.5 million to a hospital for an ambulance and sporting equipment to her alma mater.