The rowing athletes from Thanh Hoa are diligently training at Song Muc Lake (Ben En National Park).
The Thanh Hoa rowing team was established in 2002 and has since undergone many changes in both its personnel and competitive achievements. Before 2015, Thanh Hoa rowing was nổi prominent for the pair of athletes Nguyen Dinh Huy and Nguyen Dinh Hoang, two brothers who won many medals at national championships, national sports festivals, and international competitions. After 2015, the sport lacked outstanding talents, and domestic achievements declined. Following the 9th National Sports Games in 2022, which concluded with the greatest success being the gold medal in the single sculls won by Luc Van Thuc, the rowing team began a generational transition, rebuilding its team from scratch.
“The coaching staff has determined that to go the distance, we cannot rely solely on veteran athletes, so we place great emphasis on training the next generation, developing plans for each stage and each specific competition. The goal is to ensure the sport continues to maintain its position in domestic competitions while simultaneously creating a class of elite athletes who can excel at the regional and international levels,” said Nguyen Trong Dung, Head of the Rowing Department.
However, the biggest challenge for rowing is finding and discovering talented athletes. According to the head of the department, Nguyen Trong Dung, the reason is that the equipment is very specialized and expensive, and training is arduous. Therefore, in localities without a strong rowing movement, families are hesitant to let their children train in this sport. In addition, rowing is a cyclical sport that demands considerable muscle strength. Furthermore, the training environment for rowing is outdoors, exposed to rain, wind, scorching sun, and freezing cold.
With the support of the sports sector and the efforts of the coaching staff, the rowing discipline (including canoeing and rowing) has overcome difficulties and gradually built a class of elite athletes. Currently, the discipline has 32 athletes and 2 coaches, including 11 provincial-level athletes, 10 youth-level athletes, and 11 talented athletes. Maintaining a strong team across all three levels of athletes promises to help the discipline build a solid foundation for future growth and development.
Since 2015, athletes from all three levels, along with the coaching staff of the sport, have moved their training location from Sam Son ward to Ben En National Park. Training at Song Muc Lake in Ben En is much more convenient than before.
Visiting the rowing team's training session at Ben En National Park reveals the determination and effort of both coaches and athletes. Regardless of the scorching sun or freezing rain, the coaching staff and team members have relentlessly strived to overcome difficulties and challenges, diligently training day and night with underwater exercises and land-based physical conditioning. Furthermore, they face a shortage of equipment and tools for training and competition, with only five standard-quality boats and oars not yet perfectly suited to the athletes' physiques.
Despite facing many challenges, coaches and athletes in rowing always strive to train and compete with determination towards new goals, hoping to create unexpected achievements at national and international competitions. Rowing has consistently ranked in the top 7 or 8 nationally in recent years. In 2023, at the National Youth Rowing and Canoeing Championships, athletes won 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals; and 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 3 bronze medals at the National Rowing and Canoeing Championships. In 2024, they aim for 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at the National Youth Rowing and Canoeing Championships; and 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal at the U19, U23, and Southeast Asian Youth Rowing and Canoeing Championships. In 2025, Thanh Hoa's rowing and canoeing team continued to make its mark by winning 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 4 bronze medals at the National Youth Rowing and Canoeing Championships. This affirmed the correct direction in the selection and training of athletes.
In terms of talent, rowing is considered to have a good pool of mature athletes. Thanh Hoa rowing contributes four promising young athletes to the national team: Luc Van Thuc, Luc Anh Thu, Vi Tuan Khanh, and Le Thi Yen Chi. Besides these four top athletes, the national team also includes other young talents who have proven themselves with numerous medals at domestic competitions, such as Nguyen Van Bac, Lu Nhat Long, and Quach Nhat Tan...
According to Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Head of the Training Management Department at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, Thanh Hoa rowing has achieved many proud successes in recent years. These successes demonstrate the province's attention and investment, as well as the continuous efforts of the athletes and coaches. “The rowing team has undergone many innovations towards deep specialization; the training system is divided into three training levels. Across all three levels, athletes receive systematic training and are carefully screened before being selected for the national championships. In addition, the team always focuses on improving the quality of its recruits, conducting regular professional assessments, and regularly reviewing and classifying athletes. To create conditions for the further development of rowing, in the future, the center will focus on providing opportunities for athletes to train and compete in tournaments to have regular opportunities for exchange, experience, and skill development,” Mr. Hai stated.
Text and photos: Anh Tuan
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dua-thuyen-no-luc-vuon-tam-260689.htm
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