KIM DUNG, the "iron" champion

Having dedicated herself to bodybuilding for 10 years, and pursuing aerobics for approximately the same period, Nguyen Thi Kim Dung is now considered one of the fittest athletes in the country. She has also gradually conquered international arenas, with her collection of achievements steadily growing.

The fruits of perseverance

Because she was so small, Kim Dung, a middle school student, was enrolled in aerobics classes by her family to improve her physique and health for her studies. She practiced aerobics for many years until she switched to bodybuilding, never imagining that her life would change with this choice.

KIM DUNG, nhà vô địch — Nguyen Thi Kim Dung is a three-time consecutive world bodybuilding champion. Photo: Dinh Kim

Having become familiar with both fitness and classic bodybuilding thanks to her love of creativity on the runway and her desire to build a suitable physique, in just 3 years, Kim Dung has gradually pursued her goal of becoming a professional athlete.

Injuries, illnesses, and the physical strain of the rigorous training seemed too much for a woman to bear, and Kim Dung once considered abandoning this demanding path.

Even now, Kim Dung still frequently has to explain to the students of Jessy Private Gym, the training center she manages, about the possibility of developing an unattractive physique, overly muscular bodies that are considered less feminine from a woman's perspective, or hormonal changes, voice changes, and personality shifts… She always remains confident in her physical beauty despite facing insensitive comments.

It was the students who followed their teacher to the tournaments and witnessed Kim Dung's victories. Except for 2021, when the national championship could not be held due to the COVID-19 outbreak, from 2017 to the present, Kim Dung has "dominated" the women's fitness and classic bodybuilding categories for female athletes under 1.65m tall, with 8 gold medal wins in 9 years.

Reaching international standards

Having started her career at the 2023 Southeast Asian Championships and encouraged by a gold medal in the women's classical bodybuilding event, Kim Dung confidently set a goal: to participate in at least two-thirds of the international competitions organized by the World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (WBPF) each year.

Since 2023, Kim Dung has continuously added continental and world gold medals to her collection of achievements. Her victory in the classic bodybuilding event for women under 1.65m tall at the 2025 World Championships currently taking place in Indonesia gave her a "golden hat-trick"—an achievement not every athlete can attain.

2025 is a memorable year in Kim Dung's life. In April, the 30-year-old female bodybuilder was awarded the First Class Labor Medal by the President of Vietnam for winning the world championship title for two consecutive years. In August, she won two gold medals at the Asian Championships. In October, Kim Dung extended her winning streak at the national championships with her 15th and 16th gold medals. In November, she won her third consecutive world gold medal in the women's classical bodybuilding category.

A true warrior

Having mentored Kim Dung from her early days, coach Tran Hoang Duy Thuan highly praised his student's discipline, attitude, and demeanor. "After a year of preparation for three tournaments and achieving results beyond expectations, Kim Dung is a steel warrior, ready to reach the highest peaks in her career," coach Tran Hoang Duy Thuan shared.