Korean Strength Sports Enter a New Era as the Nation Eyes Hosting the 2027 World Strongman Games

KHIVA, UZBEKISTAN / SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

Writer ; MD.Moon hyungsuk

A new chapter in the history of Korean strength sports is being written on the international stage.

Yoo Useong, one of South Korea’s most accomplished heavyweight powerlifters and strength athletes, has been officially invited to represent the Republic of Korea at two of the most prestigious international strongman events in Central Asia: the VI International Pahlavon Mahmud Strongmen Games and the Farhad Challenge 2026, both organised under the auspices of the World Strongman Federation (WSF) in cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan.

Held in the historic Silk Road city of Khiva and the mountainous resort region of Oqtosh, these competitions bring together many of the world’s most formidable professional strongmen from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

More significantly, the events serve as an important gateway into the World Strongman Federation’s international professional athlete system. Yoo’s participation therefore represents far more than a national team appearance; it marks his formal emergence as a recognised professional athlete within the global WSF circuit.

Competing Among the World’s Elite

The 2026 edition features an exceptional field of athletes representing more than fifteen nations, including Iceland, Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan, New Zealand, Mongolia, Turkey, Lithuania, Georgia and the Czech Republic.

Several competitors arrive with international reputations already firmly established.

Among them is Reza Gheitasi of Iran, widely regarded as one of Asia’s strongest men and a veteran of numerous international strongman championships. Renowned for his immense pulling power and extraordinary physical stature, he has long been recognised as one of the dominant figures of Middle Eastern strength sports.

Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt of Pakistan, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and one of the most successful strength athletes in Pakistan’s sporting history, also enters the competition as a serious contender. His achievements have earned him international acclaim across multiple professional strongman circuits.

Representing Ukraine is Ivan Myskovets, a distinguished competitor on the European Strongman Series, recognised for his performances in traditional strongman disciplines including vehicle pulls, Atlas Stones and log presses.

From Iceland arrives Gudnason Birgir Mar, carrying the legacy of a nation synonymous with strongman excellence. Iceland has produced legends such as Hafþór Björnsson and Magnús Ver Magnússon, and Gudnason is viewed as a worthy representative of that celebrated Nordic tradition.

Yoo Useong: The Pride of Korean Strength Sports

Standing among these internationally recognised competitors is South Korea’s own Yoo Useong, whose credentials are equally impressive.

A former representative weightlifter for Jeollanam-do Province, Yoo has dedicated more than two decades to strength sports and has successfully established himself as one of South Korea’s premier heavyweight athletes.

Throughout his career he has accumulated numerous national titles and records across powerlifting and weightlifting disciplines. His personal bests include:

• Squat: 302.5 kg
• Deadlift: 307.5 kg
• Competition Total: 850 kg

These figures rank among the strongest performances ever recorded in Korean powerlifting history.

Having secured championships under the IPF, WPC and AWPC banners, Yoo has consistently represented Korea in international competition while contributing to the sport as a certified referee, coach and educator.

Yet his greatest asset may not be raw power alone.

Modern strongman competition demands a unique combination of maximal strength, endurance, mobility, resilience and tactical intelligence. Events frequently require athletes to carry, pull, lift, throw and support enormous loads under extreme conditions.

Yoo’s combination of elite squatting and deadlifting strength, cardiovascular conditioning and athletic mobility has led many observers to identify him as a genuine dark horse within the international field.

Backed by Korean Powerlifting Leadership

Yoo’s participation in Uzbekistan was strongly supported by Lee Yong-soo, President of the Korea Powerlifting Association, who has long advocated for greater Korean representation within international strength sports.

According to Korean sporting officials, Lee viewed Yoo as the ideal athlete to showcase Korea’s growing strength sports movement and actively recommended his participation to international organisers.

Many within the Korean sporting community regard this appearance as a symbolic milestone, signalling the country’s transition from domestic success to meaningful engagement within the global professional strongman arena.

South Korea Eyes the 2027 World Strongman Games

Perhaps the most intriguing development emerging from the Uzbekistan gathering is South Korea’s growing ambition to host the World Strongman Games in 2027.

Discussions involving WSF officials, Korean sports administrators and representatives from the powerlifting and recreational sports sectors have reportedly intensified during the current events.

Should a Korean bid succeed, the country could welcome athletes, officials and spectators from more than thirty nations, generating substantial benefits for sports tourism, regional economic development and international sporting diplomacy.

Industry observers believe that a Korean-hosted World Strongman Games could create a unique model that combines elite strength sport with the global cultural influence of contemporary Korea, often referred to internationally as the “K-Culture phenomenon.”

The Beginning of a Korean Strongman Era

For Yoo Useong, this journey is about far more than individual achievement.

His participation symbolises the emergence of Korean strength sports onto the world stage and reflects a broader aspiration for South Korea to become a future hub of international strongman competition.

As some of the strongest men on earth gather in Uzbekistan to test the limits of human power and endurance, Yoo carries not only the Korean flag but also the hopes of a sporting community eager to establish its place among the world’s elite.

The outcome remains to be seen.

What is already clear, however, is that Korean strength sports have entered a new era.

Paris ( Imran Y. CHOUDHRY):- The HOKA Paris Half Marathon hold on yesterday in Paris, France. Record number of participants 50,000 runners from around the world, consolidating its position as the largest half marathon in the world. This 21.097 km race, organized by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). Near parity with 46% women, with 23,000 female runners at the start.

The top three finishers were athletes from four African countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Africa.

In the men’s race, Kennedy Kimutai took first place (1:00:11). The 35-year-old Kenyan won the Paris Half Marathon for the second consecutive time. He was followed, thirty seconds later, by his compatriot Timothy Misoi (1:00:41). South African Thabang Mosiako completed the men’s podium in third place (1:00:42). Victor Moreau was the first French man, finishing 9th in 1:03:14.

On this International Women’s Rights Day, Ethiopia’s Ftaw Zeray delivered an outstanding performance by winning the HOKA Semi de Paris 2026 in 1:05:12, setting a new women’s course record. She breaks the previous mark held by Kenya’s Sheila Chepkurui, who ran 1:06:01 in 2023. On the podium, Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat finished second, while Kenya’s Mercy Chepwogen completed the top three. The first French finisher women, Katia Raoult, placed 11th in 1:15:33.

Stories that inspire, from elites to amateur runners, each participant turned the effort into a personal challenge and a moment of sharing.

Beyond the times, it was thousands of individual journeys that defined the day. A first half marathon, a comeback after illness, a personal challenge, a symbolic birthday or a promise kept — every bib carried a story.

The event will lead to major traffic restrictions and heavy crowds in central Paris. Due to numerous road closures within Paris city limits, the most reliable means are public transport, cycling, and walking. The route passes through very busy central areas and the consequences are multiple: street closures early in the morning, major bus diversions, traffic difficulties by car in central Paris and traffic being diverted to peripheral routes.

Paris ( Imran Y. CHOUDHRY):- Full of color, energy, and unforgettable moments in the biggest marathon on Earth. The Paris Marathon 2025 saw an immense sea of runners descend upon the world’s most beautiful avenue Champs-Elysees in the French capital and broke the world record, with 56,950 participants completing the course. That’s almost 1,000 more finishers than the London Marathon.

Only a month ago, we heard the news that the London Marathon was aspiring to become the largest marathon held anywhere in the world, ever. To surpass the existing world record of 55,646 finishers, set by the New York City Marathon in November 2024.

Runners set off from the legendary Champs-Élysées, marking the start of a spectacular route through Paris. Despite the somewhat gloomy weather, the route offered a real immersion in the heart of the capital , passing through such iconic landmarks as the Place de la Concorde, theOpéra Garnier and the Place de la Bastille.
The peloton continued towards the Bois de Vincennes, bringing a breath of nature to this urban route. It was here that they discovered the only new feature of the edition: a passage through the Nation district, recently added to the route.
At the end of the race, participants skirted the Seine to greet the majestic Eiffel Tower, before concluding their effort in style onAvenue Foch, the traditional finishing point of the Paris marathon.

According to the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon, just over half of the participants were first-time marathon runners. This alone shows the growing appeal of the 42.195-km distance across nations, with a 33% of the finisher field comprising international runners. More women are now running the Paris Marathon, Just under a third of finishers 31% in 2025 were women, which is up from 28% in 2024 and 26% in 2023.

African runners once again dominated the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris. Nine men reached km 30 in the lead group, but the Kenyan Benard Biwott, a few weeks shy of his 23rd birthday, unleashed a devastating acceleration at km 33 that blew the group to smithereens. He opened up a decisive gap in no time and cruised home in 2:05:25, just 54 seconds off the course record still held by fellow Kenyan Elisha Rotich, who had to settle for twelfth this time in 2025. “I’m really happy with the win”, beamed the victor. “I pushed hard all the way and I’m really pleased with my time. It was very tough, but I gave it everything I had.” He succeeded the Ethiopian Mulugeta Uma as champion and delivered the sixteenth win for Kenya in the streets of Paris. The Djiboutian Ibrahim Hassan put in a stellar run to take second in 2:06:13, with another Kenyan, Sila Kiptoo rounding out the podium in 2:06:21.

On the French side, Hassan Chahdi, 20th at the last Olympic Games, spent a long time in the lead group, only to throw in the towel shortly after the halfway points. Jason Pointeau was the best French performer in fifteenth place. His time of 2:13:36 put him just ahead of Florian Caro and Yohan Durand. “Being the top French runner means a lot to me”, said Pointeau. “It wasn’t even on my radar because Hassan Chahdi was on the start list. I was hoping to be the top French entrant… after him. I deduced from the cheers of the crowds that I was in that position, so I held on to that thought. I felt rubbish from the first couple of strides. I told myself I had to hang on in there. In the end, the last 15 K were not that bad. I’m pleased because I managed to finish on a high note.”

After a cautious first half of the women’s race, four runners broke free going into the final 10 kilometres. On the run-in towards Avenue Foch, the Ethiopian Bedatu Hirpa —who will soon turn 25 and took the Dubai Marathon in a personal best of 2:18:27 back in January, fellow Ethiopian Dera Dida, to cross the finish line with a time of 2:20:45 and secure the second Ethiopian triumph in Paris. She succeeded her countrywoman Mestawut Fikir. “I roared as I went over the finish line because I really wanted to win the Marathon de Paris. I was over the moon and wanted to express just how happy I was. It was a tough race, but victory washes away the suffering.” Dera Dida was the best of the rest at 4 seconds. The Kenyan Angela Tanui (2:21:07) took the bottom step of the podium. After flirting with the course record (2:19:48, set in 2022 by the Kenyan Judith Keptum, eighth today) for most of the race, the lead group faded somewhat in the final kilometres. Loréna Meningand’s metronomic consistency made her the top French runner, twelfth overall with a time of 2:36:33.

Photos @ Imran Y. CHOUDHRY