Olympians Aimee Fuller and Mirjam Jaeger in the new Olympic Channel documentary “Running in North Korea”
Demonstrating the unifying power of sport, Running in North Korea follows Olympians Aimee Fuller, from Great Britain, and Mirjam “Mimi” Jaeger, from Switzerland, in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as they run a marathon and explore the intriguing country.
Running in North Korea captures the journeys of two Olympians as they travel to Pyongyang to participate in the 2019 Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, also known as the Pyongyang Marathon. During their week-long visit, Fuller and Jaeger experience the local sports culture and meet fellow Olympians from the DPRK. Fuelled by curiosity, wonder and a wish to connect with athletes no matter what their nationality, this Olympic Channel original documentary is an inside look at the isolated country, and showcases the power of sport to go beyond politics.
The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is held annually every April, and is one of the largest sporting events in the DPRK sporting calendar. Runners from around the world, including nearly 1,000 foreigners, participated in the 2019 event. The 42km course started in front of a near-capacity crowd at the 50,000-seat Kim Il Sung Stadium, and led participants past many of Pyongyang’s important landmarks, along the Taedong River and through residential neighbourhoods.
Running in her first marathon, Team GB snowboarder Fuller (Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018) finished with a time of 4:35:34.
“This was my first-ever marathon, and I discovered the power of sport in humanising the unknown,” said Fuller of her experience in Pyongyang.
Swiss freestyle skier Jaeger (Sochi 2014), who is now a presenter and influencer, participated in the event’s 10K race.
“It was an amazing and unique experience. I smiled during the whole race, which I have never done before,” said Jaeger of her time in the country.
This Olympic Channel original production is made possible through the efforts of the National Olympic Committee of the DPRK, which helped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to give the film crew access to the country.
Offering unparalleled access to Olympic sports and athletes all year round, the Olympic Channel lets fans experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in 11 languages. The Olympic Channel over-the-top (OTT) service is available worldwide and subscription-free at olympicchannel.com, on its mobile apps and on connected TV devices.