"I want to make my own life beautiful."

Concluding a successful year of competition, weightlifter Le Van Cong maintained his dominant position in the 49 kg weight class throughout 7 consecutive ASEAN Para Games from 2007 to the present. In the joy of welcoming the new year, the man nicknamed the "iron strongman" has set goals to continue proving himself and contributing to his homeland.

Traveling over 50 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, I arrived at the small house in Giong Sao hamlet, Tan Phu Trung commune (Cu Chi district) of world disabled weightlifting champion Le Van Cong. Listening to his story of pursuing and conquering his dream, I was even more impressed by the extraordinary willpower and effort of this athlete who holds many world records.

Born in 1984 in Ha Tinh City, Le Van Cong was born with a congenital disability. His underdeveloped legs are a consequence of his mother contracting dengue fever during pregnancy. Overcoming his insecurities, Le Van Cong strived to study and live independently using his strong and active hands.

After graduating from high school, he went to Ho Chi Minh City alone to study electronics at a vocational school for people with disabilities. To make ends meet, in addition to his classes, he worked various part-time jobs, from selling lottery tickets to typing documents and sanding wood for furniture shops. Because he wanted to save everything for his studies, for many years he often went to temples to receive free vegetarian meals.

Bodybuilder Le Van Cong - a shining example of perseverance and overcoming adversity.

After graduating, Le Van Cong, in his wheelchair, went everywhere looking for a job but was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he enrolled in a computer class at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Vocational Training Club for People with Disabilities. This also led Le Van Cong to weightlifting, when he was introduced to train at the Weightlifting Club of the Tan Binh District Cultural and Sports Center.

Under the direct training and instruction of Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc, Le Van Cong showed a clear passion for the sport and made significant progress. After only two months of training, he surprised everyone by winning a silver medal at the 2005 National Weightlifting Championship for People with Disabilities in the 48 kg category. Through arduous training and unwavering determination, Le Van Cong gradually conquered new heights in national competitions, regional (ASEAN Para Games), continental (Asian Para Games), and world (Paralympic) sporting events.

Le Van Cong's first international competition was the 2007 ASEAN Para Games, where he excelled, winning the gold medal in the 49 kg weight category with a lift of 152.5 kg.

Le Van Cong has continued to maintain his dominant position in the 49kg weight class throughout 7 consecutive Para Games from 2007 to the present.

The first international competition that Le Van Cong participated in was the 2007 ASEAN Para Games, where he excellently won the gold medal in the 49 kg weight category with a lift of 152.5 kg.

The biggest turning point in Le Van Cong's athletic career was in 2011. At the height of his career, most notably after winning the gold medal at the 2009 ASEAN Para Games with a record of 165 kg, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in a major shoulder joint injury. Following the incident, Le Van Cong was devastated when his doctor advised him: "You should give up sports to save your arm." For days, he locked himself in his house, grappling with the question of whether to stop or continue competing. But then, thinking of his family, his future, and the loved ones who had always believed in him, a strong will emerged, motivating him to "start over."

With patience in each physiotherapy session and gradually reacquainting with weights, after 3 years, Le Van Cong made a strong comeback to continue achieving resounding success in international competitions. The gold medal at the Asian Paralympic Weightlifting Championships in Kazakhstan at the end of July 2015 is proof of the extraordinary efforts of this strongman from Ha Tinh province. With a weight of 182 kg, Le Van Cong broke the world record of 181.5 kg that he himself set in October 2014 at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Le Van Cong broke the record and won the first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

At the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, weightlifter Le Van Cong won a valuable gold medal for the Vietnamese Paralympic team in the 49 kg weightlifting category. This was also the first Paralympic gold medal in the history of Vietnamese Paralympic sports after 16 years of participating in the Games. Immediately after winning the gold medal, Le Van Cong was allowed to attempt another lift and he surpassed 183 kg, breaking the Paralympic record in this weight category.

Weightlifter Le Van Cong won the gold medal at the 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships with a lift of 176kg - (Photo FBNV) .

At the 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Saudi Arabia in August, Le Van Cong defeated Jordanian opponent Omar Qarada – the reigning world and Paralympic champion – to win the gold medal in the 49 kg weight category. Prior to that, at the 12th ASEAN Para Games in 2023 held in Cambodia, he won two gold medals, thus maintaining his dominance in the 49 kg weight category throughout seven ASEAN Para Games since 2007.

Le Van Cong's miraculous achievement not only "shocked" international media, but his story also became a role model for overcoming disability, changing destiny, and strongly inspiring people with disabilities both domestically and internationally.

"I never thought that a person with a disability like me would one day become a weightlifter. But I always try and am determined to overcome my limitations. Instead of blaming fate, I want to make my life beautiful in a truly special way," shared weightlifter Le Van Cong.

Behind the prestigious medals and world records achieved by weightlifter Le Van Cong, besides the support and encouragement from his coach and teammates, there is a "support system" that always silently stands by him, cheering him on and taking care of everything so that he can confidently pursue his passion - his hardworking wife, Chu Thi Tam.

The love and unwavering support from his devoted wife allows the world record holder in weightlifting to devote himself entirely to training and competition.

The path to marriage for Mr. Cong and Ms. Tam (from Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province) was fraught with difficulties. However, through love, understanding, and empathy, they gradually overcame these obstacles to build a happy home together.

Ms. Tam confided: “When we were living in Duc Hoa district (Long An province), every day, Mr. Cong had to ride his three-wheeled motorbike more than 60 km to Ho Chi Minh City for training. By the time he got home, it was already 9 or 10 pm. He suffered injuries many times that almost prevented him from training again, but I never saw him give up his will and passion. No matter what competition he competed in, I always believed my husband would win because his determination was immense.”

Mr. Cong had to ride his three-wheeled motorbike more than 60 km to get to Ho Chi Minh City for training.

With their savings and prize money from winning competitions, the couple has acquired a spacious house in Cu Chi District (Ho Chi Minh City). Besides dedicating time to sports training, Mr. Cong also repairs and assembles audio equipment at home, providing him with a stable income. Returning to everyday life, the joys of the world record holder are simply sharing meals with his wife, taking care of and picking up their two children from school, practicing at home, and earning extra income to support the family.

Returning to his everyday life, world champion Le Van Cong enjoys simple pleasures such as eating meals with his wife, taking care of his children, training at home, and earning extra income to help support his family.

"Sports have changed my life, not only allowing me to fulfill my passion but also helping my family have a better life. Thanks to sports, I have been able to overcome my fate, assert myself, take control of my life, and integrate into society," the weightlifter from Ha Tinh expressed.

For his achievements, Le Van Cong was awarded the First and Third Class Labor Orders and many other prestigious awards from the Party, the State, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Physical Education and Sports, etc.

Le Van Cong won a silver medal in the men's 49kg weightlifting category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Photo: Internet.

“At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, I had some regrets about only winning a silver medal, so from now on, I've set myself the goal of training and preparing as best as I can to aim for three consecutive Paralympic medals in 2024. I hope the Year of the Dragon will bring great success, new achievements, and glory to myself, my family, my hometown, and my country,” shared weightlifter Le Van Cong.

Article by: Ngan Giang

Photos: PV, Internet, NVCC

Design: Cong Ngoc

3:14:02:20 24:08:30

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/xa-que/nha-vo-dich-the-van-hoi-le-van-cong-toi-muon-tu-lam-dep-cuoc-doi-minh/258755.htm