Vietnamese mountaineers were unable to compete for titles with their rivals at the 33rd SEA Games - Photo: THANH DINH
For the Vietnamese climbing team, the 33rd SEA Games is not only an opportunity to compete but also clear evidence of the correct direction of the sports socialization model, where passion and community collaboration are opening up new opportunities.
A promising comeback
The last time fans witnessed athletes competing in rock climbing at a SEA Games was in 2011 in Indonesia. At that time, Phan Thanh Nhien's unexpected silver medal in the speed climbing event ignited hope for a sport that was still relatively new in Vietnam.
After more than a decade, when the 33rd SEA Games were held in Thailand, sport climbing made a comeback with a completely different look.
The Vietnamese climbing team participating in the 33rd SEA Games consists of five young athletes: Thai Thi Yen Nhi, Nguyen Ngoc Hai Yen, Nguyen Thi Kieu My, Nguyen Van Vu, and Nguyen Tran Trung Hau.
The contestants will compete in two main events: bouldering (climbing low-level boulders without safety ropes) and lead climbing (leading the way, climbing to higher levels with safety ropes).
Socialization: the key to unlocking the path.
The most distinctive feature of the Vietnamese mountain climbing team is its 100% privately funded model. Not relying on state budget, the team is formed and maintained through the joint efforts of businesses, private gyms, and the passion of the athletes themselves.
Ms. Huynh Thi Dien, a member of the team leadership, frankly shared with Tuoi Tre newspaper about the difficulties: "This is the first time the team has participated in the SEA Games entirely through a socialized funding model. From preparing the budget and finding sponsors to arranging training equipment, everything was a huge challenge. We learned as we went, building procedures, from accommodation and transportation to technical and professional issues."
Sport climbing is a unique sport at the 33rd SEA Games - Photo: THANH DINH
The lack of international-standard facilities is also a major problem. In Vietnam, the number of training facilities that meet the standards for top-level competition can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Athletes often have to train under makeshift conditions, figuring things out and overcoming challenges on their own.
The story of young people "climbing" because of their passion.
Nguyen Ngoc Hai Yen, one of the team's hopes, is a prime example of the new generation of young, dynamic, and enthusiastic mountain climbing athletes.
Hai Yen, originally an office worker, came to mountain climbing by chance and became attached to it, accepting the trade-off of a stable job to pursue her passion.
"Initially, I worked as a sales manager, but then the opportunity to compete in the SEA Games came along, and I decided to take a gamble and quit my job to focus entirely on training," Hai Yen revealed.
"There were so many difficulties, from having to finance everything ourselves, figuring out our own nutritional needs, to lacking information about our opponents. We were like explorers, learning as we went. But representing Vietnam, wearing the national colors, was the biggest motivation for me to overcome everything."
Coach Paul Massad doesn't place too much emphasis on results at the SEA Games 33 - Photo: THANH DINH
To prepare for the SEA Games, Hai Yen and her teammates had to adhere to a strict training schedule, combining mountain climbing and gym workouts to improve physical fitness and yoga to increase flexibility.
Leading the team at this tournament is Coach Paul Massad, a Chilean coach who has been passionate about Vietnamese mountaineering for many years. He understands the position of Vietnamese mountaineering in the region and has set realistic goals:
"We don't put pressure on you to win medals, because we understand the gap in skill levels. The biggest goal is for the athletes to surpass themselves, showcase their best in training, and learn from the experiences of other countries."
"Most importantly, we want to use this tournament to promote mountaineering to the people of Vietnam, building a foundation for long-term development," he added.
At the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnamese sport climbing may not promise a "shower of gold medals," but it will certainly bring a fresh, youthful, and modern perspective.
This is the story of young people who dare to live their passions, who dare to embark on challenging paths to prove themselves and bring glory to their country.
And who knows, perhaps from these pioneering steps today, one day, Vietnamese mountaineering will reach new heights on the regional and world sports map.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cau-chuyen-nhung-tay-leo-nui-viet-nam-tai-sea-games-33-20251212164319684.htm
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