The gold medal won by Vietnam's oldest gymnast.

At the age of 30, Dinh Phuong Thanh returned to the SEA Games arena and immediately proved his worth by winning the gold medal in the parallel bars.

On the afternoon of December 12th, Dinh Phuong Thanh performed almost perfectly, scoring 12.900 points. He surpassed his two closest competitors, Yudha Satria Tri Wira of Indonesia (12.633 points) and Nomura Fuga of Thailand (12.167 points).

Winning the parallel bars event was a strong comeback, a reminder that the "elder brother" still retains his top-class status after nearly a decade of being among the elite of Vietnamese gymnastics.

Thành has always been a veteran of the team, but in many previous SEA Games, he was never alone. For nearly 10 years, he was accompanied by his close friend and equally talented rival and partner, Lê Thanh Tùng. Therefore, his return to the SEA Games 33 without his "best friend" by his side evoked mixed emotions of joy and regret.

Dinh Phuong Thanh demonstrated his class in the parallel bars event. Photo: Duy Hieu.

Dinh Phuong Thanh's journey began to shine at the 2014 Asian Games with a bronze medal in the parallel bars at the young age of 19. A year later, at the 2015 SEA Games, he and Thanh Tung led the men's gymnastics team to dominate the region with 6 out of 8 gold medals. From then until the 32nd SEA Games, this duo was an irreplaceable pillar, helping Vietnam maintain its leading position and even securing a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – a career milestone that few Vietnamese athletes have achieved.

The 2023 SEA Games marked a turning point. He started a family, welcomed his first son, and decided not to participate in the 19th Asian Games. Meanwhile, Thanh Tung left the national team to pursue a coaching career. It seemed like the end for a duo who had been together throughout their youth.

But the 33rd SEA Games opened a new chapter. Returning after a long period of infrequent international competition, Dinh Phuong Thanh maintained his composure, confidence, and precision in every movement. And the gold medal in the parallel bars he just won is proof of his persistent efforts over the past 10 years, thus continuing the glorious journey of Vietnamese gymnastics.

At 30 years old, Dinh Phuong Thanh is participating in his 6th SEA Games. He is also competing in another event, the horizontal bar.

Source: https://znews.vn/tam-hcv-cua-vdv-lon-tuoi-nhat-the-duc-dung-cu-viet-nam-post1610720.html