1. Personal Background
Pak Song-chol was born on November 10, 1984, in South Hwanghae Province, North Korea. He stands at 5.6 ft (1.7 m) tall and weighs 132 lb (60 kg). He represents his home country, North Korea, in international athletics competitions.
2. Athletics Career
Pak Song-chol's athletic career as a long-distance runner spans over a decade, marked by consistent participation in both domestic and international events, including multiple Olympic appearances and significant regional achievements.
2.1. Debut and Early Career
Pak Song-chol began his marathon career in 2005, making his debut at the Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea. In his first appearance, he finished 18th with a time of 2:23:36. He continued to gain experience in 2006, competing in the Xiamen International Marathon in China, where he placed 16th with a time of 2:20:40. He also participated in the Macau Marathon that year.
His breakthrough came in 2007 when he dipped under two hours and twenty minutes for the first time. He notably won the Pyongyang Marathon with a personal best time of 2:12:41, marking his first major victory. Later that year, he also ran the Beijing Marathon, finishing 11th with a time of 2:15:17. In 2008, he successfully defended his title at the Pyongyang Marathon, securing another first-place finish with a time of 2:14:22.
2.2. Major International Competitions
Pak Song-chol has competed in several major international athletic events, representing North Korea on the global stage.
2.2.1. Summer Olympics
Pak competed in the men's marathon at two consecutive Summer Olympic Games. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he finished 40th overall with a time of 2:21:16. He was selected again to represent North Korea at the 2012 London Olympics, where he placed 52nd in the men's marathon, completing the race in 2:20:20.
2.2.2. World Athletics Championships
In 2009, Pak participated in the men's marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin, Germany. He finished 43rd in the competition, recording a time of 2:21:12.
2.2.3. Asian Games
Pak Song-chol competed in the men's marathon at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. He secured a sixth-place finish in the event with a time of 2:18:16.
2.2.4. East Asian Games
Pak earned his first international medal at the 2009 East Asian Games held in Hong Kong. He won a silver medal in the half marathon event, completing the race in 1:06:05.
2.2.5. Military World Games
In 2011, Pak represented North Korea at the 2011 Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He finished fifth in the marathon event with a time of 2:21:59.
2.3. Domestic and Regional Competitions
Beyond major international championships, Pak Song-chol has been a consistent presence in various domestic and regional marathons. He has made multiple appearances at the Pyongyang Marathon, securing victories in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, he placed sixth in the Pyongyang Marathon with a time of 2:15:53. In 2010, he finished second at the Pyongyang Marathon, running 2:14:09, which was his fastest time since 2007, though he was surpassed by Ivan Babaryka. The 2012 Pyongyang Marathon, held as part of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth, saw one of the closest finishes in the race's history, with Pak recording the same time as Oleksandr Matviychuk (2:12:54 hours), but ultimately taking second place. In 2013, he achieved his third fastest career time in Pyongyang (2:13:24) but finished fourth behind foreign competitors. His last recorded appearance at the Pyongyang Marathon was in 2014, where he finished sixth with a time of 2:15:01.
He also competed in the Xiamen International Marathon in 2006 and 2008, finishing 16th and 8th respectively. In 2007, he ran the Beijing Marathon, securing an 11th-place finish.
2.4. Personal Bests and Records
Pak Song-chol's personal best time in the marathon is 2:12:41 hours, which he achieved on April 8, 2007, when he won the Pyongyang Marathon. This remains his fastest recorded time in the event. His personal best in the half marathon is 1:06:05, achieved at the 2009 East Asian Games where he won a silver medal.
2.5. Flag Bearer Role
Pak Song-chol was honored with the role of flag bearer for the North Korean delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.
2.6. Career Results
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 18th | Marathon | 2:23:36 |
| 2006 | Xiamen International Marathon | Xiamen, China | 16th | Marathon | 2:20:40 |
| 2007 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 1st | Marathon | 2:12:41 |
| 2007 | Beijing Marathon | Beijing, China | 11th | Marathon | 2:15:17 |
| 2008 | Xiamen International Marathon | Xiamen, China | 8th | Marathon | 2:15:34 |
| 2008 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 1st | Marathon | 2:14:22 |
| 2008 | Olympics | Beijing, China | 40th | Marathon | 2:21:16 |
| 2009 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 6th | Marathon | 2:15:53 |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 43rd | Marathon | 2:21:12 |
| 2009 | East Asian Games | Hong Kong | 2nd | Half marathon | 1:06:05 |
| 2010 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 2nd | Marathon | 2:14:09 |
| 2010 | Asian Games | Guangzhou, China | 6th | Marathon | 2:18:16 |
| 2011 | Military World Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 5th | Marathon | 2:21:59 |
| 2012 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 2nd | Marathon | 2:12:54 |
| 2012 | Olympics | London, United Kingdom | 52nd | Marathon | 2:20:20 |
| 2013 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 4th | Marathon | 2:13:24 |
| 2014 | Pyongyang Marathon | Pyongyang, North Korea | 6th | Marathon | 2:15:01 |