Home Sports The “Golden Girl” of Vietnamese Athletics

Sports

The “Golden Girl” of Vietnamese Athletics

Nguyen Thi Oanh has overcome tremendous difficulties - both mental and physical - to become one of Vietnam's most successful professional athletes.

Administrator

10 June, 2023

691

¡Sube la temperatura esta semana! Se aproxima una ola de calor.

Turn up the heat this week! A heatwave is approaching.

Oanh made history at the 32nd Southteast Asian (SEA) Games on May 9 when she became the first athlete to win gold medals in both the 1,500m and 3,000m women’s hurdling events.

Just three days later, Oanh found herself once again atop the podium when she won a gold medal in the women’s 10,000-meter race.

She asserted that she had won a total of four gold medals at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, which were held in Cambodia from May 5 to May 17.

Oanh, affectionately known in the Southeast Asian running scene as the ‘runner without lungs’, is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the event.

She was born in 1995 in the northern Vietnamese province of Bac Giang, about 50 kilometers from Hanoi.

She is the seventh child in a family of farmers. In her early teens, she developed a love for running and, at 15, was given the opportunity to join the provincial athletics team.

At the age of 17, Oanh was selected to join the national track-and-field team, which was led by coach Tran Van Sy.

She was voted the best female track-and-field athlete in Vietnam for both 2019 and 2022. Her impressive performances in her four consecutive Southeast Asian Games appearances have made her one of the most important members of the Vietnam national team.

In addition to her work as a professional athlete, Oanh also runs an online store specializing in clothes and shoes.

Her professional running career has had a roller coaster of highs and lows.

While she has long suffered from insomnia, especially while preparing for important competitions, a more sinister health condition almost forced her onto the sidelines permanently.

In 2014, she was diagnosed with acute nephritis, resulting in her neck and face swelling. This could have potentially ended her career.

Doctors forbade her from eating oily, fatty, and salty foods, leading to a lack of iodide and causing her flexures to shrink. Her disease forced her into a state of depression and caused her severe social anxiety.

After six months of treatment, Oanh was able to return to the track.

Nine years ago, she was virtually unknown. Now, she is considered a symbol of both Vietnamese and Southeast Asian athletics.

At the SEA Games 32 in Cambodia in 2023, Nguyen Thi Oanh achieved a remarkable feat by winning two gold medals in just about 30 minutes, the first of its kind in the history of Vietnamese sports.

At the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Nguyen Thi Oanh set a new record by winning two gold medals in only about 30 minutes, the first of its kind in the history of Vietnamese sports. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Oanh is a historic figure, as they have become the first athlete in history to win four gold medals at a single edition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“The demanding and difficult race schedule provided me with the motivation to give it my all and I felt immense joy and satisfaction when I won,” said Oanh during an exchange with the youth in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is what I wanted to achieve for Vietnamese sports: to bring them to the forefront of the world’s sporting stage.

Throughout the 10,000-meter race, Oanh maintained her lead despite the encouragement from teammates, media, and Vietnamese spectators at the Morodok Techo Stadium. Her persistence paid off, as she won her fourth gold.

In the final stages of the race, she sped up to the front of the pack, leaving her opponents in the dust and crossing the finish line first with a time of 35:11:53.

With her gold medal in the 10,000-meter category, Oanh contributed four out of the twelve gold medals won by the Vietnamese track-and-field team.

Profile of Nguyen Thi Oanh
Nguyen Thi Oanh is a leading figure in the Vietnamese business world. She has a long and successful career in the banking sector, having served as the CEO of a major bank for over 10 years. She is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of a large financial services company. Oanh is a highly regarded business leader and has been recognized for her numerous accomplishments in the industry. She is also a philanthropist, having made substantial donations to numerous charities. Oanh is an inspirational figure and a role model for young entrepreneurs in Vietnam.

Nguyễn Thị Oanh

Nguyen Thi Oanh

Date of birth: August 15th, 1995

Place of birth: My Ha Commune, Lang Giang District, Bac Giang Province, Vietnam

A member of the Vietnamese Athletics Team has won a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games. This is the first gold medal that the team has won this year, and it marks a great success for the team.

The 3,000-meter steeplechase, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters are the four categories of track events.

Height: 1.53 meters

Top Performances – Many of our athletes have achieved outstanding performances this season. We are proud of their hard work and dedication to their sport. Congratulations to everyone who has achieved success!

At the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, a silver medal was won in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event.

At the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, two gold medals were won in the 1500-meter and 5000-meter races.

are awarded to Singapore athletes .

Singapore athletes have won gold medals in the 1500-meter run, 3000-meter steeplechase, and 5000-meter run at the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Congratulations to them!

At the 2018 Asian Games, a bronze medal was won in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event.

New Content Here

This is the new content that has been written in English.

Four Athletes Earn Top Spot at 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games

Four athletes have earned the top spot at the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Malaysian athlete Goh Li Xuan won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event. Thai athlete Phuttaraphon Chomchuen earned silver, followed by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Philippines’ Jethro Dionisio taking bronze. This marks Goh Li Xuan’s first gold medal in the SEA Games.

The 2019 Female Athlete of The Year in Vietnam has been awarded to Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, a world champion swimmer who won three gold medals at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.

Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, 20, won the award at the Vietnam Sports Awards ceremony in Hanoi on December 19. She is the first female swimmer to be named the Female Athlete of The Year in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Anh Vien won gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay at the 2019 SEA Games. She also won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

The 2019 Female Athlete of The Year in Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, has made the nation proud with her excellent performance in the SEA Games.

The 2022 Female Athlete of The Year in Vietnam has been announced. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, a swimmer from Ho Chi Minh City, has been selected for this prestigious honor. Ngan has achieved remarkable success in the world of international competitive swimming, winning gold medals at the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and other international events. She is a true role model and inspiration to other athletes in Vietnam. Ngan’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work and dedication, and she is a deserving recipient of the 2022 Female Athlete of The Year award.

Top Ten Most Outstanding Young People in Vietnam in 2019

Each year, the nation of Vietnam recognizes its young people for their outstanding achievements. The following is a list of the top ten most outstanding young people in Vietnam in 2019.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan – Politician and former Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam.
Nguyen Xuan Phuc – Prime Minister of Vietnam.
Nguyen Van Thieu – Former President of South Vietnam.
Nguyen Quang A – Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ho Chi Minh – Revolutionary and Founding Leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Pham Minh Chinh – Politician and Current Minister of Public Security of Vietnam.
Tran Dai Quang – Politician and Former President of Vietnam.
Tran Thi Mai – Politician and Current Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam.
Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc – Politician and Chairwoman of the National Election Council of Vietnam.
Le Kha Phieu – Politician and Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

These ten individuals have made significant contributions to the development and progress of Vietnam and are deserving of the honor of being recognized as the most outstanding young people in the nation. Congratulations to all of them!

Stay up-to-date with the latest news about Vietnam by liking us on Facebook here or following us on Twitter here!