Athlete Le Van Cong received the French Gold Medal

On the morning of November 22, the French Embassy in Vietnam and the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City awarded the Gold Medal of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to disabled athlete Le Van Cong.

French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Etienne Ranaivoson presents the Gold Medal of the French Ministry of Youth and Sports to athlete Le Van Cong - Photo: DUC KHUE

Le Van Cong is a weightlifter of Vietnam's disabled sports. Despite difficult circumstances, with extraordinary determination, he has conquered many noble titles and broken world records.

At the most prestigious arena, the Paralympics, he was the first Vietnamese athlete to win a gold medal in 2016 in Brazil. In 2020, he continued to win a silver medal and in the 2024 Olympics, a bronze medal.

With all three Paralympic medals, Le Van Cong is the best disabled athlete in Vietnam. In particular, his bronze medal achievement at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris helped him receive many compliments from the host country, France.

Immediately after the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the athlete born in 1984 received a congratulatory letter from French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet.

On the morning of November 22, it was the turn of the French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Etienne Ranaivoson, on behalf of the French Ministry of Youth and Sports, to present the ministry's Gold Medal to Le Van Cong.

Mr. Ranaivoson shared: "Le Van Cong is truly a symbol of a young generation of Vietnam that is not bound by limitations, whether physical, social or material.

He is a symbol of dignity and perseverance for people with disabilities. People who struggle every day with obstacles that are even more severe than the challenges on the stadium. He is a symbol of a Vietnam that is brave, hardworking, resilient and never gives up.

Athlete Le Van Cong also responded: "Today, receiving this noble medal is a great pride for me. In this life, I always try to maintain the view that whatever others can do, I can do too. That helps me always desire, strive and reap success in my sports career and in life."

In addition to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Gold Medal Award program, the Consul General also attended the Volvic Rugby Day program.

This event was initiated by François Trinh-Duc, a former French rugby player of Vietnamese origin and founder of the social enterprise Rugby Together.

DUC KHUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/luc-si-le-van-cong-nhan-huan-chuong-vang-cua-phap-20251122122507481.htm