Gymnastics 'Hot boy' and the dream of gold at SEA Games 33: When Thailand makes things difficult

A generation of talent contributes to making Vietnamese gymnastics famous at the SEA Games

When it comes to the men's gymnastics team, it is impossible not to mention the first generation of talents who brought gold medals to Vietnam at the 22nd SEA Games in 2003. At that time, Nguyen Minh Tuan in the rings and Duong Ngoc Dam in the parallel bars won the first championships against the regional dominance of Thailand and Malaysia. That achievement opened the opportunity for Vietnamese men's gymnastics to step into the common house of Southeast Asia, officially creating competition for more than 20 years.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 1. — The coaching staff disseminated the test to the male athletes attending the 33rd SEA Games.

Since that milestone, we have always had gold medals every time gymnastics was held at the SEA Games, not just 2 but successively increased from 3 to 6 most prestigious titles like at the Singapore SEA Games in 2015. After the initial heroes, a generation of outstanding talents continued to win gold medals such as Pham Phuoc Hung, Truong Minh Sang, Hoang Cuong, Nguyen Ha Thanh, Dang Nam or Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh. These young men with extraordinary determination have continuously brought gold medals to the country from the 2005 SEA Games until more than a decade later.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 2. — Dang Van Khanh Phong performed impressively in the suspension test.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 3. — Dinh Phuong Thanh, who won 4 SEA Games gold medals exactly 10 years ago in Singapore, carefully checks the bar before competing.

Now the gymnastics team has a new generation of talent. In addition to the mainstay Dinh Phuong Thanh, who is still as energetic and trying as the day he won the hat-trick of gold in Singapore in 2015, the three names Nguyen Van Khanh Phong, Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien and Trinh Hai Khang have proven their abilities. In particular, Khanh Phong and Xuan Thien won gold at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia 2 years ago. Even more impressive is the miraculous silver medal in the rings that Khanh Phong brought home from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou (China). Recently, Vietnam had Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien win the 2025 World Cup in Bulgaria in the rings.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 4. — 4 hopes of Vietnamese men's gymnastics

Accelerating for SEA Games and the goal of Japan ASIAD next year

Talking to us at the National High-Level Athlete Training Center (Nhon), Coach Truong Minh Sang, a dedicated, responsible teacher and an example of overcoming difficulties and overcoming adversity in Ho Chi Minh City sports in the past, said: "At the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnamese gymnastics is focusing on its strengths such as rings, pommel horse, horizontal bar or parallel bars to have the ability to compete for gold medals. Of course, difficulties are something that we have predicted due to major changes in competition regulations from the host country Thailand.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 5. — Trinh Hai Khang performed beautifully in the vault event.

For example, they have removed the team and all-around events, each athlete can register for a maximum of three events and reach the finals of a maximum of two events at the 33rd SEA Games. In the last two SEA Games, we have won team gold medals. The change by host Thailand not only affects the individual athletes as well as the sport, as the men's team event is one of the "gold mines", but also forces the team to adjust its training strategy and lower the target to 2-3 gold medals, despite winning 4 gold medals at the previous SEA Games.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 6. — Dinh Phuong Thanh with beautiful straight movements and charisma in the parallel bars test

Because there are only 6 men's singles events left, according to coach Truong Minh Sang, in the context of the Philippine athletes all improving from the Olympic champion phenomenon of Carlos Yulo, we have to try even harder. "The Filipinos not only have Yulo, but they also have John Ivan Cruz and Juancho Muguel Besana, who are both very good. Whether Yulo participates or not, it will be very difficult for us to win 4/6 singles events.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 7. — Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien tested well in the horse racing event on the afternoon of November 20.

We set a target of 2-3 gold medals to avoid putting too much pressure on the athletes, and at the same time, it is within our capabilities at the regional level. Our coaching staff also reminded the athletes that they do not need to care about who they compete with. No matter what the opponent is, we must strive to surpass ourselves. We must be confident, try to overcome weaknesses and promote strengths to conquer the set goals," said coach Truong Minh Sang.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 8. — Coach Truong Minh Sang (middle) and the coaching staff remind and correct each technical move and competition state for the athletes.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 9. — The coaching staff takes care of athlete Dinh Phuong Thanh after the test.

With the current strength, Vietnamese gymnastics will focus on 2 events that are champions: Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien's pommel horse and Nguyen Van Khanh Phong's rings. In addition, veteran athlete Dinh Phuong Thanh will focus on his strengths in the horizontal bar and parallel bars, while Trinh Hai Khang is expected to perform in freestyle gymnastics and vault. The "hot boys" are all trying to speed up every day, sweating on the training floor to achieve the best results. These are also talents preparing for the Asian Games next year in Japan, with the goal of continuing to promote Khanh Phong's achievements 4 years ago to bring home a medal for the country.

'Hot boy’ thể dục dụng cụ và giấc mơ vàng SEA Games 33: Khi bị Thái Lan làm khó- Ảnh 10. — Quynh Nhu tested well in the anti-dance test on November 20.

In the women's category at the SEA Games, Vietnam has 3 athletes: Tran Doan Quynh Nam, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu and Le Thi Thanh Phuong. Among them, Quynh Nhu is expected to become a new bright spot. With her achievements at the Asian Championship, Quynh Nhu is considered to have the ability to compete for the gold medal, something that Vietnamese women's gymnastics has been waiting for exactly 10 years since Phan Thi Ha Thanh won the last time in Singapore in 2015.