Oanh "Ỉn" creates a miracle.

Never considering herself a "star," and never allowing herself to be complacent with her achievements, Nguyen Thi Oanh always looks forward as if she were racing towards the finish line.

By now, no one is unfamiliar with Nguyen Thi Oanh, a name that has become incredibly popular in Southeast Asian athletics throughout many past SEA Games. Just by looking at the list of events in which Oanh competes, fans are eager to witness firsthand this petite athlete creating a miracle.

The journey to establishing a name for oneself.

Few athletes have maintained peak performance for such a long period and made such a profound impact as Nguyen Thi Oanh. From a frail and sickly young girl, Nguyen Thi Oanh rose to become a major icon of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian athletics.

Southeast Asian athletics boasts two exceptionally talented athletes: Jennifer Tin Lay (Myanmar, shot put) and Elma Muros (Philippines, long jump, triple jump), who have won a combined total of 15 gold medals throughout their careers. Nguyen Thi Oanh is closely following in the footsteps of these two legends, having just added her 13th, 14th, and 15th championships to her personal collection at the fifth consecutive SEA Games recently concluded in Thailand.

Nguyen Thi Oanh's victorious smile showcases the sporting prowess of Vietnam. Photo: Ngoc Linh

Many interesting stories surround Nguyen Thi Oanh's recent SEA Games 33 tour, not only from her withdrawal from her specialty 1,500m race to ensure her record of four gold medals in athletics at a single Games (2023) stands the test of time. Fans listened intently to Oanh's heartfelt words about "not comparing herself to Southeast Asian sports legends" and were thrilled to hear her affirm that she will continue to compete, at least at the SEA Games 34.

Undoubtedly, Nguyen Thi Oanh has set a new goal to conquer in her career. Fans have every right to expect this "iron warrior" to make a name for herself on the stages in the coming years, starting with the 2026 Asian Games and the 2027 SEA Games.

Extraordinary willpower

Having entered the world of athletics through perseverance and overcoming adversity, Nguyen Thi Oanh probably never imagined that one day, this sport would bring her glory, stemming from the very harshness of the track.

Twelve years ago, after learning she had severe glomerulonephritis, to the point where doctors warned her "not to exercise," Oanh had to follow a strict diet for months and actively take medication to treat muscle atrophy and edema.

Born in the year of the Pig, and with a short, stocky build due to this illness, her friends nicknamed her Oanh "Piglet," a strange name that later became a cute nickname for the 30-year-old star. With extraordinary willpower and relentless effort, Oanh gradually stabilized her health and resumed training in mid-2015.

Without having to wait long to shine, Nguyen Thi Oanh has earned the admiration of both experts and colleagues for her perseverance and willpower. Despite her height of only 1.50m, her achievements have gradually reached international levels. While her bronze medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2018 Asian Games and her two bronze medals in the 1,500m and 5,000m at the 2018 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships are rarely mentioned, Nguyen Thi Oanh is a major star in regional competitions.

Oanh achieved remarkable success in five consecutive SEA Games from 2017 to 2025, competing in the 1,500m (SEA Games 29, 30, 31, 32), 5,000m (SEA Games 29, 30, 31, 32, 33), 10,000m (SEA Games 32, 33), and 3,000m steeplechase (SEA Games 30, 31, 32, 33). In addition, the 30-year-old runner also won a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 27th SEA Games, and naturally, she had no worthy rivals in the four aforementioned events.

2 days of competition

won 4 gold medals

Whenever asked about the doctors' warnings against participating in sports, Nguyen Thi Oanh simply smiles and expresses her gratitude to the compassionate doctors of the past. She recounts, "If it weren't for that prohibition, I might not have been so eager to pursue a career in sports until now. Understanding the obstacles of illness, I became even more determined to regain my health through sports. Once healthy, I wanted to be even healthier, to express my aspirations on my training and competition journey."

Oanh didn't reveal much about her benefactors, but honestly admitted that she still has to have regular health checkups, especially for her glomerulonephritis, which occasionally causes her excruciating back pain. The increasing attention the sports sector receives from the nation and society is a good condition for athletes to better care for themselves and contribute even more achievements to the country.

Having single-handedly achieved an unprecedented feat at the 2023 SEA Games by winning four gold medals in just two days of competition, every time Oanh stepped onto the track, fans were almost certain that Vietnamese athletics would win gold. Carrying 25% of the Vietnamese athletics team's gold medal target for three consecutive Games, the petite athlete's legs continued to move swiftly on the track, conquering one peak after another.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/oanh-in-tao-ky-tich-196260213102511273.htm