SEA Games 33: Nguyen Thi Oanh and her symbolic value

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The latest achievement of the "little girl"

Nguyen Thi Oanh ran again, and each step she took on the track at the SEA Games 33 was no longer a race against an opponent, but a quiet dialogue with her own human limitations.

Oanh's latest 5,000m gold medal in Thailand is not simply another victory in her already impressive list of achievements, but a lasting affirmation of a career built on sweat, willpower, and unwavering belief.

At an age no longer considered young for a middle- and long-distance track and field athlete, Oanh – a girl born in 1995 – still persistently leads, still controls her pace and accelerates in the final laps as if time had never touched her.

By finishing first in the 5,000m race, Oanh defended her number one position in Southeast Asia. Gone were the moments of personal emotional outbursts; instead, her focus shifted to the younger generation.

"Tuyết, come here!" , Oanh called to Le Thi Tuyet – the 21-year-old girl considered her successor, with the silver medal – so they could celebrate together holding the national flag.

Instead of expressing personal emotions, Oanh showed pride in Vietnam, sharing the glory and instilling confidence in her younger teammates. It was a moment that brought many viewers to tears.

This victory brings Oanh's total number of SEA Games gold medals in her career to 13 – equaling the record of "hurdle queen" Nguyen Thi Huyen.

In the history of Vietnamese sports , only Nguyen Thi Anh Vien surpasses Oanh and Huyen – with a record of 25 gold medals.

Nguyen Thi Oanh Le Thi Tuyet.jpg — Oanh and Tuyet celebrate their 5,000m victory together.

Strength and endurance

Looking back at Nguyen Thi Oanh's journey, one sees that her career wasn't built on early glory. She didn't emerge from prestigious training academies, nor did she carry the immense expectations of the media.

Born into a farming family, this girl came to athletics with a pure love for running, and then, step by step, slowly but surely, climbed to the top of the region.

Initially, Oanh's small stature and weight of less than 40 kg led to criticism. However, her serious attitude and diligent training helped this "little girl" win over everyone.

The gold medals in the 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, etc., didn't come all at once, but were accumulated over many SEA Games, just as a persistent athlete accumulates lap after lap.

There were times when Oanh's specialty event was excluded from the competition program – including the 33rd SEA Games (the 3,000m steeplechase was not held) .

There were times when she faced injuries, burnout, or the familiar question: "When will it stop?"

But Nguyen Thi Oanh always chose to answer on the track. There, she didn't need to justify herself. The clock, the fairest language of sports, spoke for itself.

The greatest value Oanh brings to Vietnamese athletics far surpasses the number of medals she has won. Like Anh Vien or Nguyen Thi Huyen, she is a living testament to a seemingly simple philosophy: high-level sports require not only talent, but also unwavering perseverance.

Oanh is a golden icon of Vietnamese sports.

In the context of Vietnamese athletics still facing many difficulties in terms of infrastructure and training depth, Oanh has become a symbol of belief , demonstrating that with sufficient willpower, Vietnamese athletes can still dominate the region using their own inner strength.

For the younger generation, Nguyen Thi Oanh represents a long but not lonely journey , where each lap today is fueled by the laps of tomorrow.

To her fans, she embodies the very essence of Vietnamese emotion: quiet , humble, yet persistent , strong, resilient , and never giving up.

For Vietnamese athletics, Oanh is far more than just an athlete or a champion .

Oanh is the benchmark, the flame, the reminder that glory doesn't come from fleeting bursts of speed, but from persistently running to the very end, no matter how long the race is.

Photo: Song Ngư (from Bangkok, Thailand)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/sea-games-33-bieu-tuong-vang-the-thao-nguyen-thi-oanh-2472291.html