PARIS (TVBS News) — Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳) exclaimed on Thursday (Aug. 8) after winning a bronze medal in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, that despite her injury, she decided to "disregard it and let it hurt."
"Three bursts of pain and it's over!" she said.
Kuo, known as the "Goddess of Weightlifting," earned another medal for Taiwan's Chinese Taipei team competing in the women's 59-kilogram weightlifting event, despite battling a persistent back injury.
Kuo had injured her lower back earlier but decided to challenge herself with a 137-kilogram lift in her final attempt.
She acknowledged the risk of worsening her injury but remained determined.
Kuo fell short in the snatch by 2 kilograms to China's Luo Shifang (羅詩芳), the gold medalist. To win, she needed to lift at least 3 kilograms more in the clean and jerk.
When Luo successfully lifted 134 kilograms in her second attempt, Kuo aimed for 137 kilograms. "I just viewed it as my last time in the Games, and reminded myself to enjoy this stage," she expressed, reflecting on her performance.
Kuo admitted her back injury had been a long-standing issue but emphasized that it didn't affect her focus during the competition.
"I wasn't thinking about my injury. I didn't care, I just decided to let it hurt. After all, I just have to hang in there until the end of the competition," she remarked, showing her resilience and dedication.
As Kuo continues to inspire with her tenacity, her latest achievement adds to her legacy in the sport. Fans and supporters eagerly await her next steps, whether in competition or other endeavors.