'Walking Queen' Thanh Phuc says goodbye to athletics

Athlete Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc wants to create opportunities for her juniors, while also spending time with her family and trying her hand at running, so she left the Vietnamese athletics team.

According to the 33-year-old athlete, there will be no major race walking tournaments in 2024, so she decided not to join the Vietnamese athletics team to save costs.

"I would like to withdraw from the team to give my place to the younger players. For the past 13 years, I have focused and contributed a lot to national walking, so I need to rest with my family. This is also the time for me to focus on the community, participating in more running races to test myself," Thanh Phuc told VnExpress on the morning of January 8.

Thanh Phuc ran a full marathon for the first time at VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong 2023. Photo: VM

Thanh Phuc was born in 1990 in Hoa Vang, Da Nang . As a teenager, she often walked from home to school, a long distance. Later, her talent was discovered by track and field coaches and she trained to become the top walker in the region. Thanh Phuc currently holds the record of 17 consecutive years as the national walking champion. She also won 5 SEA Games gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal in Asia. This athlete also participated in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Championships.

In addition to walking, Thanh Phuc has recently switched to running, in the half marathon (21.0975km) and marathon (42.198km) distances. At the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong on December 17, 2023, Thanh Phuc participated in the full marathon distance with a time of 3 hours 07 minutes 58 seconds. "With my current foundation, I feel that I am capable of participating in running competitions. I will train seriously to pursue my passion," she said.

In addition, the athlete known as the "Queen of Walking" also wants to inspire the next generation of this sport . "I am also getting old, so I really want to have more walking talents for the country's athletics. After 2024, if the team needs me, I will return to the training camp to prepare for the 2025 SEA Games," Thanh Phuc affirmed.

Duc Dong

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/nu-hoang-di-bo-thanh-phuc-chia-tay-dien-kinh-4698303.html