Nguyen Thi Ngoc: Her first time running the 400m and her journey overcoming injury to win a SEA Games gold medal.

Overcoming pressure to achieve glory

Stepping onto the 400m track for the first time at a SEA Games, Nguyen Thi Ngoc carried within her not only excitement but also the very real nervousness of a young athlete.

“Yes, this is my first time running the 400 meters at the SEA Games. Initially, I was very nervous…,” Ngoc recounted, her voice soft but full of determination. But, once she stepped onto the starting line, Ngoc understood that the most important thing was to believe in herself.

Although the 400m is an event where Vietnam holds an advantage and needs to defend its gold medal, Ngoc remains calm and highly focused. "I'm trying my best because I know this is an event where I have to defend the gold medal for my country," she said.

The moment Ngoc sprinted towards the finish line.

Ngoc started confidently, maintaining a steady pace for the first 200 meters, then accelerated sharply at the final corner. This decisive burst of speed allowed her to overtake her opponents and race to the finish line with great force amidst the thunderous cheers from the Suphachalasai stands.

Her time of 52.74 seconds not only brought her a gold medal but also marked the biggest breakthrough in Ngoc's career. Previously, she had won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles and a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 32nd SEA Games, but had never won an individual gold medal.

As her legs crossed the finish line, Ngoc didn't even realize what she had just accomplished. Only when she looked up at the electronic scoreboard and saw the number 52.74 seconds illuminated next to her name did she burst with happiness: "I didn't even know how I came in first. Seeing my name in first place, I was so happy and emotional."

Ngoc looked up at the electronic scoreboard and burst into tears.

Overcoming injury to create a miracle.

To achieve her memorable performance at this SEA Games, Nguyen Thi Ngoc had to overcome a long-term injury. A sprained ankle significantly affected her training, but she refused to give up. "I sprained my ankle, but I overcame the injury to achieve what I have today," she said.

Fortunately, Ngoc had enough time to recover before entering the crucial preparation phase. And it was those months of treatment and recovery, and the gradual effort she put in, that built the confidence and resilience she brought to her first SEA Games 400m race.

And then, at the decisive moment, all those efforts paid off. The young girl's journey at this SEA Games may have begun with nervousness, but it ended with the resilience of an athlete who knew how to overcome herself and with the glittering gold of victory.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguyen-thi-ngoc-lan-dau-chay-400m-va-hanh-trinh-vuot-chan-thuong-de-cham-toi-vang-sea-games-post1804155.tpo