Lee Sang: A Look Behind The Scenes At His Fascinating Training Regimen

As we all know, Lee Sang is one of South Korea’s biggest hopes for an Olympic medal in weightlifting and is currently one of the best-performing athletes in the 67 kg division. Last year, he won the bronze medal for the Clean&Jerk event at the world championship in Riyadh, and he placed fifth overall – a finish that wasn’t quite what he was aiming for. In a recent interview, Sang said:

“No, no, I’m absolutely not satisfied. Even though I won a bronze medal, I was more angry with myself than pleased about the medal. I was just so frustrated with myself. So, I was really upset yesterday. Truly, even after coming back, I was constantly angry and upset, and I couldn’t sleep well. I was just so disappointed in myself. It was a very disappointing day for me.” 

Even though he currently owns the South Korean record for the Clean & Jerk, having lifted 182 kg on the movement, he says that his main priority is winning medals and not improving on his record:

“I think I prioritize winning a medal over improving my record. And if my record does improve, I believe it could certainly lead to more medal-winning opportunities. So, in response to your question, I’d like to say that winning medals is closer to the top of my priority list than improving my records.”

To improve his results on the podium and hopefully win a few medals during this Olympic season, Sang has been extremely focused on his training regime. Even though he is often told he has the build for a bodybuilder, his main focus remains on improving how much he can lift and not on the aesthetics of his physique.

Sang says he never misses a day of training, even if it’s just to do some light movement and stretching – for him, consistency is the key to fantastic results, and thankfully, his country allows him to “work” as a weightlifter full-time.  Allowing with winning medals, Lee Sang hopes to contribute to the popularization of weightlifting in his home country, as currently it’s not considered the most watched or followed athletic discipline. 

The next time we’re going to see Lee compete will be at the Asian Championship, which starts on February 3rd – hopefully, he will be able to showcase the result of his rigorous training and quality for the Games in Paris this summer. 

For even more coverage of famous athletes in functional fitness, Olympic weightlifting, and Strongmen, make sure to check out our news blog daily and follow us on social media. And, as always, if you want an even deeper dive into the world of weightlifting, check out our YouTube channel.