Won Myong-gyong's Golden Victory: North Korean Wrestler's Joyous Hug Steals the Show at World Championships

Won Myong-gyong became emotional after winning the women’s freestyle 50 kg gold medal at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The North Korean wrestler, competing in her first senior world championship, ended a perfect campaign with a strong 8-2 victory over China’s Yu Zhang in the final.

The win carried historic value for her country. It was only the third women’s world title ever for North Korea, making Won’s triumph a landmark for the nation. According to her UWW athlete profile, she had three wins and one loss in 2025 before the tournament, but in Zagreb she stayed unbeaten through every round.

Her celebrations reached a heartwarming moment when she gave the referee a long hug, overwhelmed with joy and relief, before turning to thank the side judges as well.

Won recorded victories in different ways, including VPO1 (winning by points despite her opponent scoring) and VSU (winning by superiority), underlining both her range and technical command.

After her win, Won told United World Wrestling (UWW): “This medal and the championship belt I’ve won are just the first step in repaying my parents for all their sacrifices. From now on, I’ll work even harder to become an Olympic champion.”

More than the numbers, it was her hug with the referee that stood out most. Such a gesture is rare in wrestling, but it reflected her deep gratitude to those who maintain fairness and discipline in the sport, turning her gold medal moment into something even more memorable.

Won Myong-gyong’s stupendous run at World Wrestling Championships

Won Myong-gyong enjoyed a brilliant campaign at the World Championships. She opened with a resounding 10-0 win over Kazakhstan’s Svetlana Ankicheva to move into the quarterfinals. There, she maintained her dominance, defeating Canada’s Madison Parks 12-0 in another technical masterclass.

In the semifinals, she proved her composure by overcoming Japan’s Remina Yoshimoto to book a place in the title clash. Won then capped her journey in Zagreb in style, edging past China’s Zhang Yu in a tense final to capture the gold medal and deliver a landmark triumph for North Korea.