Nguyen Quoc Toan is the eldest brother in a farming family of three brothers in Bac Lieu . Talking about his destiny in pursuing a sports career, Quoc Toan expressed: "When I was young, I did not know what sports were and was not passionate about any subject. When I was 11 years old, the teachers at the Bac Lieu Province Sports Training and Competition Center came to the school to select me. At that time, I did not know what subject I would practice and the teachers guided me to practice weightlifting. Over the past time, my family has always supported me in pursuing my passion. After I won the gold medal, my parents were very happy and prepared a feast for my brothers and neighbors."

Competition of athlete Nguyen Quoc Toan at SEA Games 32.

Before the 32nd SEA Games, not many people knew about Nguyen Quoc Toan. At the 31st SEA Games in 2022, Nguyen Quoc Toan only won a bronze medal when competing in the 81kg category. Having to gain 8kg but still competing excellently at the 32nd SEA Games shows the determination and remarkable maturity of this athlete born in 2002. Mr. Nguyen Huy Hung, in charge of the Weightlifting Department (General Department of Sports and Physical Training), commented: "The achievement that Nguyen Quoc Toan achieved at the 32nd SEA Games was truly surprising because for a long time, Vietnamese weightlifting has not been highly appreciated in the major weight categories. In the coming time, we will continue to have a training plan to help Nguyen Quoc Toan improve his achievements and competitive spirit."

Although highly appreciating Nguyen Quoc Toan, Mr. Nguyen Huy Hung admitted that Vietnamese weightlifters' strengths are in the small and medium weight classes, and they have no chance of competing for high achievements in the continent in the large weight classes. Mr. Nguyen Huy Hung expressed: "If he maintains his courage and will to train, Nguyen Quoc Toan will maintain his position in the regional arena. To achieve achievements in the continental and world arenas, this weightlifter needs determination and effort to surpass his limits."

To prepare for the 32nd SEA Games, Nguyen Quoc Toan has been training since the beginning of 2023 and recently had the opportunity to visit his parents. After the 32nd SEA Games, Nguyen Quoc Toan has been training again with an intensity of two sessions/day. In the mind of the athlete born in 2002, he needs to practice harder to reach new goals. Nguyen Quoc Toan admitted: “I am not satisfied with my performance at the 32nd SEA Games. When I was training, my weightlifting performance was even better. However, I always tell myself that the SEA Games is not the final destination. The biggest goal in my career is to win a ticket to the Olympics. I don't know if I can complete it, but I never give up.”

Article and photos: VIET AN