'Wushu Queen' Thuy Hien and the hidden aspects behind the spotlight

Thúy Hiền was a guest on the 5-Star Hotel program. There, she shared insights into the hidden aspects behind the glamour and her journey on the "Beautiful Woman Riding the Wind" show.

Thúy Hiền was born in 1979 into a family with a strong sporting tradition; her father was a football player, and her older sister was a sepak takraw athlete. From the age of 12, Thúy Hiền displayed exceptional talent and became a promising talent in Vietnamese Wushu in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Thuy Hien is known as the "Queen of Wushu".

At the age of 14, Thuy Hien shone brightly when she won the gold medal at the World Championships in Malaysia in the sword discipline, marking the beginning of a 10-year journey at the pinnacle of her career. She retired from competition in 2005. After leaving the competitive arena, she worked as a coach and referee in Wushu for the Hanoi Department of Sports and Physical Education.

Sharing her story on the program, Thuy Hien revealed that she has won a total of 7 World Gold Medals, 2 Asian Gold Medals, 1 ASIAD Silver Medal, 8 SEA Games Gold Medals, has been voted the Outstanding Athlete of Vietnamese Sports 6 times, and is especially honored to have received the First, Second, and Third Class Labor Orders.

But she will always remember her first gold medal because, at that time, the entire sports delegation sang the Vietnamese national anthem loudly since there was no automatic music player like in other countries.

"Back then, no one in the team brought a tape of the Vietnamese national anthem because no one thought we could win a gold medal. So when we went up to receive the medals, the whole team sang it aloud, even with the Chinese experts present. Every time I recall that memory, I feel emotional because it was so special, despite the shortcomings. It's a special memory in my life as an athlete, the first time I won the world championship," Thuy Hien said.

During her approximately 10 years of top-level competition, Thuy Hien achieved many successes but also faced numerous setbacks. Few understood that behind the glamour were constant stomach pains and backaches from injuries sustained during training and performances. At times, she weighed only 40kg, her figure thin and frail, and she wanted to give up.

Thuy Hien had initially wanted to end her career with a World Championship gold medal because she was suffering from a knee injury. However, when the 2003 SEA Games were held in Vietnam, she decided to participate. Standing on the red carpet in Vietnam, watching her loved ones compete, motivated Thuy Hien to overcome the pain of her injury. At that SEA Games, Thuy Hien won three gold medals, a beautiful farewell to her sporting career.

Thuy Hien and her sister Thuy Vinh in the "5-Star Hotel" program.

Later in the program, Thuy Vinh's older sister, the "Wushu Queen," appeared. She rarely spoke about her sister's severe period of depression.

" Thúy Hiền went through a severe depression and repeatedly went to stand on the Vĩnh Tuy bridge. She went through a truly terrible period. At that time, I was too far away, and I couldn't fully understand everything she told me over the phone. Later, I moved to Hanoi to be closer to Hiền. Seeing her shine on the 'Beautiful Sister' stage was the most moving and happiest moment for me."

Recounting that period of crisis, Thuy Hien said: " Sometimes when I FaceTimed with my sister, I would cry without knowing what was wrong with me. I myself wasn't aware that I had depression. Perhaps because I'm strong, I didn't believe I was sick. I overcame all the difficulties that happened. But that very pride when I had depression was a mistake."

I'm still sitting here, battling my negative side. I'm still doing normal things like taking my kids to school, buying things for them, etc., but I don't feel happy, only sad. No one has been able to answer my questions for a long time."

"The 'Wushu Queen' said that at that time, family members were the most important people. 'People will listen to what depressed people have to say and understand what they want. It's important to give depressed people a place to share their feelings. Without a place to share, they can easily become hopeless,' Thuy Hien shared."

Former athlete Thuy Hien has just concluded her journey in "Beautiful Women Riding the Wind".

Overcoming the trauma of depression, Thúy Hiền has returned stronger than ever. She participated in "Beautiful Women Riding the Wind" with the hope of not only adding a unique perspective but also sharing an emotional story about overcoming depression. She hopes that women will always be confident and believe in their ability to realize their dreams.

Although her journey ended with regret, Thuy Hien left many beautiful impressions in the hearts of the public. Looking back on her long journey, the "Wushu Queen" believes that whether it's a sports career or any other profession, if you pursue your passion with all your might, no matter the outcome, you will never feel regret. Every effort, endeavor, and perseverance is a source of pride for yourself, your family, and your country.

Currently, Thuy Hien regularly exercises and plays table tennis daily, which helps her maintain an admirable figure in her forties.

Thuy Hien performed in the "Beautiful Sister Riding the Wind" show.

Le Chi

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nu-hoang-wushu-thuy-hien-and-the-hidden-aspects-behind-the-glamour-ar914498.html