When glory is woven from silent sacrifices

VHO - Behind every glittering medal at the 33rd SEA Games lies not only the sweat, tears, and unwavering will of the athletes and coaches on the front lines, but also the quiet, unassuming efforts of those who are almost outside the "spotlight"—the team of doctors, nurses, and sports medicine technicians.

They may not step onto the podium or receive the applause of the audience, but they are the ones who maintain the health, fitness, and safety of the athletes throughout the grueling competition.

At the 33rd SEA Games, these individuals appeared like diligent, hardworking bees, tirelessly moving from one competition venue to another, from the early morning until late at night, quietly contributing their small but indispensable parts to the overall success of Vietnamese sports .

Silent footsteps on the "front lines"

Nurse Bui Thi Hoai only hopes that the athletes will be healthy and have good physical condition when competing.

Having dedicated 25 years to caring for athletes, nurse Bui Thi Hoai is familiar with the unique rhythm of elite sports, where even minor pain can affect performance, and where every medical decision must be precise and timely.

Every day, Ms. Hoai takes care of the athletes at the National High-Level Athlete Training Center, and whenever there's a major event like the SEA Games or Asian Games, she packs her bags and joins the medical team accompanying the Vietnamese sports delegations to the "front lines".

At the 33rd SEA Games, nurse Bui Thi Hoai, along with doctor Tran Thi Nga, was assigned to provide medical care and rehabilitation for the Jujitsu, Fencing, martial arts, and wrestling teams. These teams had a large number of athletes, high competition intensity, and a constant risk of injury.

Their job begins with thoroughly understanding the match schedule, venues, and accommodation for each team, monitoring the health status of athletes before matches, and providing timely support when needed.

Before a competition, athletes need to be bandaged, warmed up, and their bodies activated. In Jujitsu, each athlete can compete in 5 to 6 rounds per day, each round lasting 5 minutes, followed by a 5-minute rest period for doctors and nurses to massage and aid in recovery.

The repetitive work, dealing with a large number of athletes, often leaves Hoai's hands and feet aching and exhausted. But just thinking about the moment the athletes step onto the podium to receive their medals, she pours all her remaining strength into each massage movement and each bandage application.

"As long as the athletes are healthy and perform well, we're happy," Hoai smiled, a simple yet enduring smile, just like the work she does.

Life has no clock.

Technician Ta Dac Anh is always busy from early morning until late at night taking care of the athletes.

In addition to facing a high workload, the medical team also had to overcome difficulties in transportation. Traffic in Thailand is congested, and the distance from their accommodation to the competition venues often takes longer than expected.

There were days when they would leave early in the morning and only pick up the doctors one by one from different competition venues late at night, with the journey back to their accommodation taking nearly two hours. But that wasn't the end of a day's work.

When the athletes return to their hotels, if there are any unusual health symptoms, doctors and nurses continue to examine and care for them right at their accommodation. For them, time is not measured in office hours, but in the competition schedule and the health status of each athlete.

In the same rhythm of life, Ta Dac Anh, a technician at the Vietnam Sports Hospital (who has been associated with the national athletics team for nearly 10 years), understands each athlete as well as he understands his own body.

For him, caring for athletes is not just a job, but a process of understanding and supporting them. "Caring for athletes is very special. Each competition has its own unique characteristics, and each stage of the competition requires different recovery methods," shared Dac Anh.

A typical workday for technician Dac Anh begins very early. He joins the team on the field, warming up the athletes before competition. After the competition ends, he helps the athletes relax, restoring their bodies to a state of rapid recovery to be ready for the next round.

"We just hope the athletes stay healthy, safe, and achieve the best results. And if, unfortunately, something happens, we must be the first to reach them and provide support," he said.

The foundation of golden dreams

Dr. Nguyen Manh Thang, known as a "miracle doctor" in the field of healthcare for athletes.

In martial arts, where high-intensity collisions and the risk of injury are ever-present, the role of sports medicine becomes even more crucial. At the 33rd SEA Games, the national Wushu team received close care from Dr. Nguyen Manh Thang, Deputy Director of the Center for Sports Medicine (Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism ).

Wushu "hot girl" Dang Tran Phuong Nhi, one of Vietnam's outstanding young Wushu talents, made a big splash at the 2023 World Wushu Championships with two gold medals at the young age of 19. However, before heading to the SEA Games 33, Phuong Nhi suffered a neck injury, experiencing stiffness and inability to rotate her neck. At that time, the support of the medical team became crucial, allowing the young female martial artist to continue pursuing her dream of competing.

Thanks to the timely care and treatment of Dr. Nguyen Manh Thang and his colleagues, Phuong Nhi gradually recovered and was in good enough condition to participate in the fierce competitions at the SEA Games 33, continuing to compete in the women's Nanquan event.

Not only Phuong Nhi, but many other athletes are also being closely monitored. Athlete Vu Van Tuan, who won a silver medal at the 2025 Asian Wushu Cup, suffered a muscle strain before the Taolu qualifying round. Thanks to the timely intervention of the medical team, he was healthy enough to compete, showcasing his strengths in mental stability and solid technique.

The 33rd SEA Games will conclude with brilliant medals and moments of overwhelming emotion on the podium. But behind that glory are countless silent footsteps, calloused hands from massages, sleepless nights, journeys back and forth in traffic jams, and gentle smiles, all hoping that the athletes will be healthy and able to compete to the fullest.

Doctors, nurses, and sports medicine technicians have been, are, and will always be silently weaving the solid foundation for success. They may not stand on the podium, but they have contributed to keeping the dream of gold medals for Vietnamese sports soaring.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/khi-anh-hao-quang-duoc-det-tu-nhung-hy-sinh-tham-lang-189262.html