12-year-old girl wins international medal in speed skating.

Impressive with a series of achievements in figure skating.

Despite being only 12 years old, Dinh Truc Quyen, a 7th-grade student at Ha Dinh Secondary School ( Hanoi ), has an impressive record with a series of gold and silver medals at Asian and Southeast Asian speed skating competitions.

At the 2025 Asia Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy in India, this athlete won a gold medal in the 777m event and a silver medal in the 333m event in the Junior D category. Prior to that, Quyen also made her mark at the 2024 Southeast Asian Speed Skating Open in the Philippines with three individual silver medals (1000m, 777m, 500m) and one silver medal in the team relay.

Dinh Truc Quyen at a figure skating competition held in India. PHOTO: Provided by the subject.

Domestically, the female athletes continued to demonstrate consistent performance, winning a gold medal in the 1000m (professional) and a silver medal in the 500m (semi-professional) at the National Championships in November 2024.

Starting with a passion for roller skating in first grade, she began competing in second grade. In 2023, after her first experience with speed skating, Quyen was immediately captivated by the feeling of "gliding like a bullet" on the ice, which prompted her to ask her mother for permission to try the sport.

During her training and competitions, Quyen faced numerous difficulties, including frequent falls, injuries, limited ice rink conditions, and high training and competition costs. Despite her family's modest financial situation, her mother consistently drove her to and from training for many years, always there to encourage her whenever she suffered injuries.

"Every time I fell and got hurt, my mother was the one who took care of my medication and encouraged me to try to overcome it," Quyen shared.

Training isn't easy either. Because there isn't a dedicated training ground, Quyen has to share space with amateur players. She trains about four times a week, each session lasting from 5 PM to 8 PM. During the summer, her training schedule is intensified. Quyen says she always learns from her seniors and friends and strictly follows the coach's instructions to improve her technique.

Dinh Truc Quyen has an impressive track record. PHOTO: Provided by the interviewee.

Having fallen in the 500m race despite leading at the Asian Championships, Quyen said it was a regrettable experience but also a motivation to try harder. "I want to achieve better results in upcoming competitions," Quyen expressed her determination.

When asked about the development of speed skating in the country, Quyen frankly stated: "Training and competition conditions are still limited. I hope there will be more professional ice rinks so I can train better."

Truc Quyen won the gold medal in the 777m figure skating event held in India.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

With a proactive spirit and a clear passion for sports from an early age, Quyen aims to continue excelling in international competitions, even knowing that many challenges lie ahead.

"I need to work harder not only to maintain my form, but also to contribute to affirming the position of Vietnamese athletes in international competitions," Quyen shared.

Duong Van Tuan, coach of the national junior figure skating team and Quyen's direct training instructor, commented: "Quyen is a promising and hardworking young athlete." He added that her diligence and quiet personality are the foundation that helps Quyen maintain perseverance in training, which is essential in a sport that demands technical skill and endurance like figure skating.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nu-sinh-12-tuoi-gianh-huy-chuong-quoc-te-mon-truot-bang-toc-do-185251006173559038.htm