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Like mother, like son

May 20, 2015
Sun Palaka and her son Justin Palaka

Sun Palaka and her son Justin Palaka

Sun Palaka, 56, came in at No. 1 in the figure masters 50+ category at the 2015 NPC Elite Tan Southern Colorado & Armed Forces in Colorado Springs, Colo., Saturday.

With her was her son, Justin Palaka, who came in second place in the men’s physique novice B category and third in men’s physique open C.

Sun, a former discus thrower who went by Kim Sun-hwa, held South Korea’s record at 51 meters 64 centimeters for 24 years until 2008.

After immigrating to the U.S. in 1988, she survived breast cancer five years ago and started body building.

Justin, who played baseball through middle and high school with an eye on the major league, quit the sport to take care of his mother while she was sick and eventually began body building with her.