The IWF World Weightlifting Championships are currently taking place in Houston, Texas and will run until Saturday.
North Korea's male and female competitors have already won 12 medals at the event, including four gold medals. Off the Ball's Ger Gilroy spoke to Tom Reynolds from the BBC about the event and how the reclusive nation have become so dominant.
An increase of interest in sport and genetics of Korean body type have seen the team flourish according to Reynolds. They have sent one of the biggest teams to the World Championships. Only 12 nations have sent bigger teams to Texas.
"They have training camps and a centralised system where by they able to eat, sleep and breathe weightlifting", Reynolds claims he was told by members of the British weightlifting team.
Despite their recent unexpected dominance in the sport, Reynolds is unsure if there is a doping culture in the sport in North Korea. "I raised that issue with the IWF" Reynolds told Off the Ball. The North Korean team have to comply with international doping rules that includes giving their whereabouts for one hour a day everyday.
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