The journey to the top
Those who love athletics are certainly very familiar with the name Nguyen Thi Oanh. Born and raised in a farming family, she showed exceptional talent in athletics from her school days.
From her first training sessions under the scorching sun or in the cold rain, Oanh cultivated perseverance, determination, and enduring resilience. Those arduous training days were filled not only with sweat, but sometimes with tears, extreme exhaustion, and even illness, yet she never gave up her dream of becoming a top athlete.
The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand was a well-deserved reward for Oanh's long journey of effort and sacrifice. At this Games, she not only affirmed her talent and peak performance but also proved her status as a living legend of Vietnamese athletics. Competing in all three main events, Oanh finished first in each, creating an impressive hat-trick of gold medals.
In the women's 5,000m race, Oanh finished first with a superior time, leaving the rest of the race far behind. Next, in the women's 10,000m race, she continued to demonstrate her incredible endurance and strength, leading from start to finish to win another gold medal. And in the 3,000m steeplechase, Oanh broke away from the very first strides, controlling the entire race and crossing the finish line first, proving her superior class and extraordinary competitive spirit.
Medals and records
The hat-trick of gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games gave Nguyen Thi Oanh her 15th gold medal in her career, officially surpassing Nguyen Thi Huyen's record of 13 gold medals to become the most successful Vietnamese track and field athlete in SEA Games history. This number 15 also places her alongside Southeast Asian legends like Jennifer Tin Lay (Myanmar) and Elma Muros (Philippines), among the most outstanding athletes of the regional sporting event.
Oanh has won gold medals in 5 consecutive SEA Games (2017-2025), becoming the first Vietnamese athlete to conquer 4 individual gold medals in a single Games, while also holding an Asian medal and numerous national records. Her consistency, performance, and burning desire to win over the years are vivid proof of the steely spirit of a champion.
What enabled this petite girl to consistently overcome the strongest competitors in Southeast Asia over such a long period? The secret lies not only in muscle, speed, or technique, but also in unwavering willpower, iron discipline, and an indomitable spirit, where every pressure becomes motivation, every effort turns into a medal, and every step leaves its mark on history.
The 33rd SEA Games was not only an opportunity for Oanh to affirm her personal position, but also a chance for her to elevate Vietnamese athletics. Each gold medal and each record she set brought great pride and strengthened the position of Vietnamese athletics on the regional sports map.
Even though the 33rd SEA Games have ended, the image of her breaking through on the track, her sweat mingling with determination, and the tearful moments on the podium will live on forever in the minds of fans. Nguyen Thi Oanh is not just a winner on the track; she is a living legend, where passion, responsibility, and aspiration converge, spread, and inspire an entire generation of Vietnamese sports enthusiasts.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/giai-ma-bi-an-cua-tuong-dai-dien-kinh-nguyen-thi-oanh-post1805354.tpo
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