Inside Incheon: North's "Dear Leader" and stone-breaking egg is just mental strength
Real reasons behind North Koreans' record-breaking performances is much simpler than faith in 'grand marshal'
Soon after they had pocketed their expensive timepieces - awarded to all athletes who break a world record - North Korea's record-breaking weightlifters Om Yun-chol and Kim Un-guk disclosed the secret behind their successes.
It needs an egg, a stone and an idea. But if you try it at home, you will also need the love of a "dear leader", presumably the person running your country. Yes, in North Korea they do it a little differently.
Om and Kim, both gold medallists at the London Olympics, were revealing to the media how they had come to set new marks in the under-56kg and under-62kg events.
When the chips are down, it helps to tap in to your nationalistic fervour to draw strength
It wasn't just because of the hours of painful training, but rather because Om had an idea relating to an egg and a stone.
"Have you heard that an egg can break a stone?" Om asked.
"The respected marshal has told us that if we came to the Games with an idea we could crack a stone with an egg."
His teammate Kim added: "Our dear leader, who empathised with my hardships during training, gave me love and support to help me achieve such a successful result."
No prizes for guessing who the "respected marshal" or the "dear leader" is. The normally tightlipped North Koreans are not averse to singing the praises of their country's leader, Kim Jong-un.
But it might be more than simple propaganda.
The "idea" Om talked about could mean nothing more than mental strength.
All athletes know the difference between a gold medal and a silver is often the mental edge the champion brings to the show.
When it comes to crunch time, it can be about how you are able to handle the tiny beads of pressure that build like sweat on your forehead. The years of training will help you get to that last stage, but to take the final step, you need an "idea".
The egg and the stone metaphors used by Om underline how mental fortitude can help break through any obstacle.
The love both athletes profess for their dear leader is nothing more than an unflagging love for their flag and country. When the chips are down, it helps to tap in to your nationalistic fervour to draw strength.
Talk to an All Blacks rugby player and he will talk about the pride of pulling on his jersey. The Australian cricketers hold dear their "Baggy Green" cap. In North Korea, it is the love for their dear leader.
It might be easy to scoff at the North Korean way. But if you look deeper into the words of Om and Kim, it is nothing more than what most sports psychologists use to mentally toughen up an athlete.
But this recipe might not work in Hong Kong. Not right now with very little love being expressed for our dear leader, chief executive CY Leung, right now.
The rough cost of an egg in Hong Kong dollars. Buy one and you are half-way on the road to success, North Korean-style.
